The 11 most valuable players with expiring contracts in 2025 exceed €500 million in combined market value
| Updated: October 23, 2024After watching Liverpool – Chelsea on Sunday, one of the things that passed through my mind is that Arne Slot will not be able to replace Mohamed Salah easily. The Egyptian’s contract is expiring at the end of the season with no promising news about renewal emerging on the horizon yet. A day later, on Monday, Salah’s teammate at Liverpool, Virgil Van Dijk, spoke publicly that contract extension negotiations are ongoing, but the outcome is still unclear. That made the team at Sportingpedia investigate who are the most valuable players in the world with expiring contracts next summer. The original idea was to narrow the list to 10, but there are 3 players with identical estimates at the bottom, so it consists 11 names. The players in question have a combined market value of €510 million and the majority – 5 of them play in the English Premier League, while there is not a single representative from La Liga or from Serie A. Liverpool and Bayern Munich might be in risk of losing multiple players in free agency as each club has 3 footballers within the top 11. The footballer with the highest market value on the list is the other from the Liverpool trio – Trent Alexander-Arnold with a current estimate of €70 million.
Key Takeaways:
- Liverpool and Bayern Munich each have 3 players each among the top 11 with expiring contracts next summer
- Among the top 11, there are footballers only from 4 leagues – 5 from the Premier League, 4 from the Bundesliga, and 1 each from Ligue 1 and the Saudi League
- The two most valuable Canadian players can become free agents next summer
- The most expensive player in history – Neymar is with an expiring contract in 2025
- Bayern’s trio has a combined market value of €160 million, edging out Liverpool’s three players, whose value totals €155 million
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk – Liverpool
Liverpool’s trio of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil Van Dijk are all leaders on the pitch, and all with a captain’s duty in the club respectively. Together, they have played a total of 960 matches for the club, underlining their immense contribution to Liverpool’s success over recent years. The club currently enjoys its best start in history, having won 10 of the first 11 league matches, with each of them having also played in all three Champions League finals reached under Jurgen Klopp. Salah, one of the Premier League’s top scorers, is currently in great form, while Alexander-Arnold’s playmaking skills and Van Dijk’s defensive leadership continue to be crucial for the team. The combined market value of these three players is €155 million, making their contract situations a major concern for Liverpool as they approach the summer of 2025.
Leroy Sane, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s situation mirrors Liverpool’s, with Leroy Sane, Alphonso Davies, and Joshua Kimmich among the most valuable players facing expiring contracts. Collectively, they have played 784 matches for Bayern. Their combined worth of €160 million tops that of the Liverpool’s trio and while Salah and Van Dijk are approaching their mid-30s, none of Bayern’s three stars have reached 30, making their potential departure a longer-term loss for the Bavarian club. Sane, a wide attacker, Davies, a left-back known for his pace, and Kimmich, a versatile midfielder, have been key for Bayern’s domestic and international campaigns, with each of them playing part in the club’s latest Champions League title in 2020.
Jonathan David – Lille
Lille’s Jonathan David stands out as the only player based in Europe but outside the Premier League or Bundesliga on this list. The Canadian forward has consistently performed, scoring at least 13 league goals in each of his five full seasons at the club. Since joining from Gent in 2020 for €27 million, David has seen his value rise to €45 million. Despite multiple transfer rumours linking him to major European clubs, David remains a key figure for Lille, boasting 92 goals and 20 assists across 197 appearances.
Heung-min Son – Tottenham
Heung-min Son, now in his 10th season with Tottenham Hotspur, continues to be a key figure at the club. Voted Asian Player of the Year for seven consecutive years, Son was instrumental in Tottenham’s run to the Champions League final in 2019. With 165 goals and 86 assists across 416 games, the current Tottenham captain is one of the Premier League stars facing a contract expiry. At 32, Son’s future remains a focal point for the club, with his leadership playing a crucial role.
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne’s contract situation presents a dilemma for Manchester City. The Belgian, seen as the architect of Pep Guardiola’s City, is recovering from an injury but remains one of the league’s most influential figures. Since his €76 million move from Wolfsburg in 2015, De Bruyne has accumulated 388 appearances, scoring 103 goals and providing 171 assists. He is second only to Ryan Giggs in all-time Premier League assists, achieving 114 in far fewer matches than the legendary Welshman.
Jonathan Tah – Bayer Leverkusen
Jonathan Tah, a product of Hamburger’s youth system, has been a mainstay at Bayer Leverkusen since 2015. The central defender, valued at €30 million, has played 364 games, becoming a pillar in the club’s backline. Last season, Tah helped Leverkusen to secure a historic unbeaten domestic double, with the team’s only defeat coming in the Europa League final against Atalanta. Strongly linked with Bayern Munich during the summer, Leverkusen’s decision not to sell to a direct rival only increases Tah’s potential suitors in 2025.
Neymar – Al Hilal
Neymar’s transfer from PSG to Al Hilal for €90 million in the summer of 2023 marked a new chapter in his career. The 32-year-old still holds the record for the most expensive transfer in football history with his €222 million move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017. Neymar’s debut season in Saudi Arabia was cut short as he managed to play just five matches, scoring once before suffering a severe cruciate ligament tear. After a lengthy recovery, he made his return to the field on Monday, stepping onto the pitch for the first time in 369 days. As he approaches the end of his contract next summer, the Brazilian star will likely have several options to consider, whether that means extending his stay in the Saudi League, a return to Europe, exploring the MLS, or even a homecoming to Brazil.