Every football fan will know that clubs across the world far outpay a player’s valuation to secure him on a long-term – or sometimes even short-term – deal, with prices continuing to inflate.
The CIES Football Observatory have calculated the estimated value of a player and compared it to transfer fee that he was sold at this summer.
They say, taking data from 2009-2014, that prices have inflated by 23%.
Their findings take on board the players age, his playing position, how long is left on his contract, his international status, his experience, and the standard at which he is competing at to reach their figure.
And the study has suggested that the Premier League have been perhaps the most naive – or desperate – in the summer transfer window, with no other top flight overpaying for talent more so than England’s top flight over the past few months.
Here are the top 20:
20. Yohan Cabaye – PSG to Crystal Palace
Reported fee: £10m
Estimated Value: £5.5m
19. Geoffrey Kondogbia – AS Monaco to Inter Milan
Reported fee: £22m
Estimated value: £17m
SEE MORE:
Five most important Arsenal players this season: Sanchez & Ozil joined by former Chelsea star
Five most important Chelsea players this season, with new signing & ex-Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas