Wednesday 8th December 2021: Nigeria international Victor Osimhen missed out on the top ten most valuable forwards for players under the age of 23.
According to the list released by CIES Football Observatory, the Nigerian is currently valued at €60m, thereby missed out on the CIES list for the top ten most valuable forwards under the age of 23.
The Super Eagles forward became Napoli and Africa’s most expensive player following his record €81m move to the Italian club from Lille in the summer of 2020.
However, the 22-year-old forward’ first season in Italy was blighted with injury worries and COVID-19, the Eagles striker resurrected his fine form by hitting the ground running in the 2021/22 season, scoring nine goals and two assists in 14 appearances for Napoli.
The former Lille player’s omission took many by surprise given he has started the season brilliantly at Napoli.
Borussia Dortmund’s striker Erling Haaland is the most valuable U-23 forward with an estimate of €150m.
He is closely followed by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr and Manchester City’s Phil Foden, who also have a market value of €150m.
Manchester United duo Mason Greenwood (€140m) and Jadon Sancho (€130m) complete the top five. Other players on the list who make up the top 10 are Ferran Torres (€120m), Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix (€100m), Paris Saint Germain’s Kylian Mbappe are (€88m), Moussa Diaby (€80m) and Villarreal’s Yeremi Pino (€80m).
Osimhen has so far been one of the Neapolitans best players this season before his recent injury where he fractured his cheekbone and eye socket in Napoli’s 3-2 defeat by Inter Milan following a collision with Skriniar.