CIES Names The 20 Rising Talents Who Could Shake Up The 2026 Transfer Market

Premier League

CIES Names The 20 Rising Talents Who Could Shake Up The 2026 Transfer Market

Published

4 hours ago

December 12, 2025

‎The CIES Football Observatory has identified a group of players whose values are expected to rise the most by the end of the 2025-26 season.

‎Among them are several rising stars who could ignite the coming summer transfer window.

‎They have released their latest weekly ranking, highlighting 169 players across 23 leagues who could become hot transfer market prospects.

‎Analysts assessed factors such as playing time, age, contract length, and projected performance to identify rising stars. Based on this analysis, they estimated which players are likely to see the biggest price increases by June 2026.

‎The 20 players who will set the transfer market ablaze

‎According to forecasts, it is Yan Diomande who should obtain the biggest increase in his value. Whilst currently, the CIES Football Observatory estimates him at €45.7m (£39m), the Ivorian could reach the price of €85.8m (£73.3m), an increase of more than €40m (£34.2m).

‎An amount that can notably be explained by growing interest from European heavyweights, such as Liverpool who are considering the RB Leipzig winger to succeed Mohamed Salah.

‎In second place is Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade (+€26.2m/£22.4m), poised to be one of the season’s most sought-after goalscorers. Notable names in the mix include Kenan Yildiz (+€23.2m/£19.8m) and Franco Mastantuono (+€20.1m/£17.2m).

‎Lennart Karl (+€15m/£12.8m) and Estevao Willian (+€14.6m/£12.5m), the two standout Champions League revelations, are also expected to see substantial value increases.

‎Strong Premier League representation in rising stars

‎Even with already high valuations in English football, the Premier League still has six players in the top 20, though the Bundesliga leads the way. Newcastle’s Woltemade sits second among the English contingent (+€26.2m/£22.4m).

‎West Ham United’s Malick Diouf ranks ninth (+€19.7m/£16.8m) and Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly is 12th (+€18.4m/£15.7m) as notable movers.

‎Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs sits 13th (+€18m/£15.4m), drawing attention with strong performances, while Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez ranks 14th (+€17.9m/£15.3m) as he continues his development on the south coast. Chelsea’s Estevao, at 20th (+€14.6m/£12.5m), completes the Premier League representation, the Brazilian teenager already making waves at Stamford Bridge despite his young age.

‎The Premier League’s presence in the ranking highlights its strength in attracting and developing young talent. Six players from the league are projected to see their combined value rise by more than €110m (£94m) by next summer.

‎This could make them some of the most sought-after prospects in the 2026 transfer window.

‎The 20 players whose value will increase the most by June 2026 according to CIES: