The 2024/25 football season saw the emergence of several breakout talents who not only made their mark on the pitch but also saw their market valuations soar.
With the Premier League constantly evolving and young stars breaking through, many fans keep a close eye on performances, stats, and form. This isn’t just for fantasy leagues or punditry, but also in contexts like football betting, where insights into rising players can shape opinions on future fixtures or player-related markets.
Based on percentage growth from 1 July 2024 to the end of the campaign, here are the top five players whose market value increases were nothing short of extraordinary to land them at the top of Transfermarkt’s rankings.
1. Justin Devenny – Crystal Palace
Position: Midfield
Age: 21
Nationality: Northern Ireland
Market Value: €150k → €6.00m
Increase: +3900%
Justin Devenny has been the season’s surprise package. Signed from Airdrieonians in 2023, he was initially seen as a developmental prospect for Crystal Palace’s U21 squad. But it didn’t take long for him to rise through the ranks. After making his Premier League debut in November 2024, Devenny then scored his first senior goal in a dramatic 2–2 draw against Aston Villa.
With composure in possession and a knack for finding space between the lines in a versatile midfield role, Devenny’s performances were consistently impressive, prompting a staggering 3900% increase in his value. He managed to notch two goals and one assist in 28 first-team appearances while also picking up an FA Cup winners’ medal as Palace defeated Manchester City at Wembley in the final. He’s a prime example of how opportunities in the top flight can rapidly elevate a player’s reputation.
2. Mathis Amougou – Chelsea
Position: Central Midfield
Age: 19
Nationality: France/Cameroon
Market Value: €300k → €10.00m
Increase: +3233.3%
In February 2025, Chelsea brought in young French midfielder Mathis Amougou from Saint-Étienne in a €15 million deal. While some raised eyebrows at the fee for an unproven teenager, anyone who keeps an eye on Ligue 1 will have seen Amougou feature for Les Verts during the first half of the campaign, where he made 17 league appearances. While the investment may not be justified just yet, he showed real glimpses of promise within a struggling side that eventually succumbed to relegation out of France’s top flight. He’s technical and tenacious, described as an “all-action” midfielder, and offers a unique profile in the centre of the pitch, drawing comparisons to players like Enzo Fernández and a past Chelsea great in N’golo Kante.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirmed that Amougou was not brought in merely as a project, but as someone capable of pushing for a senior role. He only managed to earn two Chelsea appearances in the latter half of the season: a seven-minute cameo debut against Southampton in league action, alongside a 15-minute spell in a UEFA Conference League quarter-final tie against Legia Warsaw. With elite-level facilities and coaching at Cobham, Amougou’s future looks promising – and his valuation has exploded accordingly.
3. Josh Acheampong – Chelsea
Position: Right-Back
Age: 19
Nationality: England/Ghana
Market Value: €300k → €8.00m
Increase: +2566.7%
Another Chelsea prospect making waves is Josh Acheampong. A product of the club’s esteemed academy, Acheampong made his senior debut in May 2024 and remained within the ranks during the 2024/25 season. After a standout performance in the UEFA Conference League and a commanding display against Crystal Palace in January, Maresca hailed him as one of the best on the pitch. The trust he has built at just 19 years of age led to a total of 11 first-team appearances, ultimately culminating in spectacular fashion as he played a large role in the Blues’ Conference League triumph to earn a winners’ medal.
Strong in one-on-one duels and comfortable carrying the ball forward, Acheampong has all the attributes of a modern full-back. His rapid growth highlights Chelsea’s success in developing home-grown talents – and his market value has risen dramatically as a result.
4. Toby Collyer – Manchester United
Position: Defensive Midfield
Age: 21
Nationality: England
Market Value: €200k → €5.00m
Increase: +2400%
Toby Collyer’s journey from Brighton’s youth system to Manchester United has been a steady ascent. Having joined United in 2022, he was long touted as one to watch. The 2024/25 campaign saw Collyer step into the spotlight, making a total of 13 appearances in the Premier League, Europa League and domestic cups.
His defensive intelligence, positioning and ball-winning ability have drawn plaudits from United fans, who see shades of a young Michael Carrick in his style of play. After years of patience and development, Collyer may have set himself up for a breakout season when the 2025/26 showdown comes around, which, again, will no doubt earn him another well-deserved spike in valuation.
5. Myles Lewis-Skelly – Arsenal
Position: Left-Back
Age: 18
Nationality: England/Barbados
Market Value: €2.00m → €45.00m
Increase: +2150%
Myles Lewis-Skelly, the most high-profile name on this list, has quickly become a household figure at Arsenal. Initially coming through the Hale End academy as a central midfielder, he’s since adapted to an inverted left-back role, showing impressive versatility and tactical maturity.
At just 18, Lewis-Skelly featured heavily in Arsenal’s push for silverware and earned a maiden call-up to the England senior squad. While the former eluded the Gunners, Lewis-Skelley made 39 first-team appearances for the club, scoring once and assisting twice; he also bagged a debut goal for the Three Lions on international duty, too. Mikel Arteta has spoken highly of his adaptability and work ethic, noting that he embodies the club’s smart, sustainable youth development ethos. With an eye-watering rise in value to €45 million, he’s now one of the most highly-rated European teenage talents.
What links these five talents isn’t just their youth or technical ability – it’s their professionalism, versatility, and ability to seize the moment. Whether plucked from obscurity like Devenny or nurtured in elite academies like Lewis-Skelly and Acheampong, their rise underscores how opportunity, timing and a strong club infrastructure can turn potential into proven value.
