FC Barcelona Star Lamine Yamal Breaks Transfer Market Record, Reports Transfermarkt
FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has become the highest-valued Spanish football player in history according to transfer market experts Transfermarkt.
The youngster has been known to Culers and La Liga fans since the spring of 2023, which is when former Barca head coach Xavi Hernandez handed Lamine his professional debut in the Spanish top flight as a 15-year-old through an impressive second half cameo against Real Betis.
This summer, however, Lamine came to more global prominence with a string of top performances at the Euros for Spain, where his important goals and assists resulted in La Roja becoming continental kings for a record fourth time in Germany at England’s expense.
Lamine has begun the 2024/2025 season in the same vein of fine form, and is much to do with why the Catalans currently boast a three-point lead at the La Liga summit over bitter rivals Real Madrid leading up to El Clasico later this month.
In the meantime, however, during the ongoing international break, he has smashed another record to accompany the multitude he already boasts for being the youngest appearance maker and goalscorer in a series of competitions.
On Friday, German transfer market experts Transfermarkt updated Lamine’s page and increased his value from $87.5 million (€80 million) in May before the Euros to $164 million (€150 million).
This in turn places Lamine ahead of Rodri, valued at $142 million (€130 million), and therefore makes the teenager the highest valued Spaniard in football history.
Barca president Joan Laporta previously explained that his club rejected an offer of $218 million (€200 million) for Lamine earlier this year, which would have made him the most expensive Spaniard of all time in terms of transfers completed.
In 2018, Chelsea paid $87.5 million (€80 million) for former Athletic Club goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and that amount hasn’t been surpassed since when it comes to buying Spanish players.
As part of comments relayed by SPORT, Transfermarkt‘s head of La Liga market values Tobias Blaseio explained how Lamine “seems to be redefining the boundaries of what is possible and continues to develop at an unstoppable speed”.
“It is impossible to imagine the Spanish national team and FC Barcelona without him. All this at an age when few footballers reach their first professional experience,” Blaseio added.
“His experience in the game and his efficiency have increased tremendously and after only nine league games, he is already close to his goalscoring figures from the whole of last season.”
Blaseio is correct with this in that Lamine already has five goals and five assists to his name this term.
When Barca returns to action following the international break, Lamine is certain to play an integral role in key games against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in La Liga and the Champions League respectively.