Raheem Sterling is most valuable young player in Europe, says study

Raheem Sterling: Liverpool forward rated as most valuable young player in Europe

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling is the most valuable young player in Europe, according to a new Soccerex study.

The Soccerex 20 U21 Report ranks the top 20 players in Europe aged 20 or younger as of January 1, 2015, which explains the absence of Tottenham's Harry Kane, who turned 21 in July.

The rankings were compiled using the Football Value Index, a player valuation methodology which takes into account various metrics including age, position, minutes played and technical quality and puts Sterling top of the pile with a value of £35m.

Sterling has been pursued by Manchester City this summer, with Sky sources saying the Sky Blues have already had a second bid of around £40million rejected as the Reds hold out for a £50m fee.

According to the study, Sterling is around £6.7m more valuable than his nearest competitor, Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian defender Marquinhos, while Manchester United’s new signing Memphis Depay is third with a value of £23.9m – just shy of the £25m fee they are believed to have paid for the Dutchman’s services.

Memphis Depay: Manchester United's new signing is given a value of £23.9m

In total, there are nine Premier League players in the top 20. United left-back Luke Shaw is judged to be the next most valuable in ninth place. United paid £30million for Shaw last summer, but the study values the 19-year-old at £18m after his first season at Old Trafford.

Kurt Zouma is ranked 11th with a value of £16.2m having broken into Chelsea’s first team set-up last season. The 20-year-old impressed in defence and midfield for the Blues and earned his first France cap in a friendly against Denmark in March.

Kurt Zouma: Chelsea starlet is valued at £16.2m by the study

Liverpool’s Emre Can is ranked 15th with a value of £12.1m, and Everton centre-back John Stones is just behind him with a value of £12m.

Can’s new Liverpool team-mate Divock Origi is the next Premier League player in the top 20 with a value of £10.9m. The young striker is set to join up with the Reds for the new campaign having spent last season on loan at Lille.

Divock Origi: Liverpool's Belgian striker is worth £10.9m, according to the study

The final two spots in the top 20 are taken by Arsenal players. Former Southampton man Calum Chambers is ranked 19th with a value of £10.7m and fellow right-back Hector Bellerin is just behind him at £10.5m.

The report was carried out by sports agency Prime Time Sport to commemorate Soccerex’s 20th anniversary as the industry’s leading global football business event, and you can see it in full below.

The Soccerex 20 U21 Report

1. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) £35m

2. Marquinhos (PSG) £28.3m

3. Memphis Depay (Man Utd) £23.9m

4. Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo, co-owned by Juventus) £21.7m

5. Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid) £21.5m

6. Hakan Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen) £19.5m

Mateo Kovacic: Reported Liverpool target has been valued at £18.6m by the study

7. Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan) £18.6m

8. Jose Luis Gaya (Valencia) £18.4m

9. Luke Shaw (Man Utd) £18m

Luke Shaw (L) and Calum Chambers both feature in the top 20

10. Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao) £17m

11. Kurt Zouma (Chelsea) £16.2m

12. Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht) £13.8m

13. Alexsandar Mitrovic (Anderlecht) £12.9m

14. Anderson Talisca (Benfica) £12.9m

15. Emre Can (Liverpool) £12.1m

John Stones: Everton defender ranked 16th in the study

16. John Stones (Everton) £12m

17. Anthony Martial (Monaco) £11.3m

18. Divock Origi (Liverpool) £10.9m

19. Calum Chambers (Arsenal) £10.7m

20. Hector Bellerin (Arsenal) £10.5m