Championship market values: Whittaker and Philogene on the up - Leicester drop
![Championship market values: Philogene and Whittaker on the up - Leicester drop Championship market values: Philogene and Whittaker on the up - Leicester drop](https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/championship-market-value-update-spotlight-philogene-whittaker-1709723860-131100.jpg)
One week ahead of the market value update in the Premier League on March 14, Transfermarkt has adjusted the market values of over 150 players in the English Championship. Among the biggest winners are several young talents such as Hull City winger Jaden Philogene and Plymouth Argyle’s Morgan Whittaker, who both have attracted the interest of top-division clubs this season. Despite a drop of another €13.5 million in squad value, league leaders Leicester maintain their spot at the top of the squad value rankings, where Leeds boast the second biggest increase and now rank only €6.3m behind their rivals for direct promotion back to the top tier.
After a mixed start to the season, Hull are currently unbeaten in six straight Championship matches with three wins and three draws, cementing their spot in the race for a playoff spot. One of the main reasons for the Tigers’ much-improved season is winger Philogene, who was directly involved in 14 goals in 22 Championship games and is one of the exciting players in the English second division this season. Following his summer move from Aston Villa, which cost the Yorkshire club an initial €5.8m, the 22 year old stepped up his game and is rewarded with a €4m market value upgrade, taking his value to €12m, the biggest increase of the update.
At playoff rivals Norwich, forward Josh Sargent is on fire, scoring eight goals in 12 matches since returning from injury at the end of last year. With an increase of €1m, the US striker goes back to his career high €12m and is on track to go up further should he stay fit until the end of the campaign.
Having only been involved in a single goal at Swansea in the second half of last season, Plymouth winger Whittaker returned to his former loan club on a permanent transfer after the Home Park side gained promotion to the Championship. He has quickly emerged as one of the the most prolific forwards in the current campaign. At 23 years of age, the former England U20 international sits second in the league’s scoring charts with 17 goals in 36 games, also adding seven assists and showing plenty of potential. Following interest from several Premier League and Championship clubs in January, even more sides are monitoring his situation ahead of the summer. As a result, Whittaker’s market value rises from €3m to €6m.
Leeds’ Gray and Ampadu continue market value rise - Leicester biggest losers
There are plenty more examples of talented young players that have yet to fulfil their full potential and are going up in value as well. The biggest winner of last December’s complete market value update, Leeds’ Archie Gray, makes another step forward and improves his market value from €14m to €16m following impressive performances at right-back. The Premier League’s top clubs are closely following the 17-year-old’s development, who is in line for another update in May should the Elland Road side be successful in their push for promotion. Teammate Ethan Ampadu (+€3m to €15m), Watford’s Yáser Asprilla (+€2m to €8m) and Middlesbrough centre-back Rav van den Berg (+€1.3m to €3.5m) also find themselves among the players aged 23 or younger to receive major market value boosts, while 25-year-old Stephy Mavididi is one of the reasons for Leicester sitting top of the table after 36 matches and is upgraded by €2m to €11m.
As result of Mavididi being the only upgraded player in the Foxes’ squad and thanks to eight downgrades in their ranks, Leicester register the biggest minus in squad value and drop by €13.5m to €211m. Centre-backs Conor Coady (-€3.5m to €3.5m) and Harry Souttar (-€2m to €9m) are among the biggest losers of the update due to a lack of game time because of the huge competition at King Power Stadium, while Wilfred Ndidi (-€2m to €16m) and Kelechi Iheanacho (-€3m to €13m) have to improve their form as well among others.
The gap to second placed Leeds (+€4.4m to €204.7m) is almost closed, with Southampton (-€5.7m to €189.9m) still sitting third. The three relegated sides want to return to the Premier League in their first attempt and are worth more than current top-tier sides Sheffield United (€146.8m) and Luton Town (€101.6m), underlining the strength of this year’s Championship. Surprise team Ipswich, sitting second in the actual league table, rise by another €3.5m, but, with a new total valuation of €50.5m, remain further down the squad value rankings, like Luton last season. The Hatters’ impressive achievement in the 2023 playoffs has shown that not always the most valuable sides succeed in the English second tier and Ipswich may well dream of returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
How Transfermarkt market values work
The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees.
The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).
![Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/smallquad/2262.png?lm=1411464792)
![Morgan Whittaker Morgan Whittaker](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/medium/502075-1709725767.jpg?lm=1)
- Date of birth/Age:
- Jan 7, 2001 (23)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Plymouth Argyle
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2027
- Position:
- Right Winger
- Market Value:
- €12.00m
![Leeds United Leeds United](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/smallquad/399.png?lm=1645652224)
![Archie Gray Archie Gray](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/medium/922693-1695108880.jpg?lm=1)
- Date of birth/Age:
- Mar 12, 2006 (18)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Leeds United
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Central Midfield
- Market Value:
- €18.00m
![Leicester City Leicester City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/smallquad/1003.png?lm=1472229265)
![Wilfred Ndidi Wilfred Ndidi](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/medium/274839-1641900364.jpg?lm=1)
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 16, 1996 (27)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Leicester City
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2024
- Position:
- Defensive Midfield
- Market Value:
- €16.00m
![Norwich City Norwich City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/smallquad/1123.png?lm=1655469640)
![Josh Sargent Josh Sargent](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/medium/393325-1665128005.jpg?lm=1)
- Date of birth/Age:
- Feb 20, 2000 (24)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Norwich City
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €14.00m
![Ethan Ampadu Ethan Ampadu](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/small/392771-1658829697.jpg?lm=1 1x, https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/kompakt/392771-1658829697.jpg?lm=1 2x)
![Ethan Ampadu Ethan Ampadu](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/399.png?lm=1645652224 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/399.png?lm=1645652224 2x)
![Yáser Asprilla Yáser Asprilla](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/small/857818-1691597301.jpg?lm=1 1x, https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/kompakt/857818-1691597301.jpg?lm=1 2x)
![Yáser Asprilla Yáser Asprilla](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1010.png?lm=1468103673 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1010.png?lm=1468103673 2x)
![Rav van den Berg Rav van den Berg](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/small/640556-1673436323.jpg?lm=1 1x, https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/kompakt/640556-1673436323.jpg?lm=1 2x)
![Rav van den Berg Rav van den Berg](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/641.png?lm=1697546042 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/641.png?lm=1697546042 2x)
![Stephy Mavididi Stephy Mavididi](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/small/340328-1707385825.jpg?lm=1 1x, https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/kompakt/340328-1707385825.jpg?lm=1 2x)
![Stephy Mavididi Stephy Mavididi](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1003.png?lm=1472229265 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1003.png?lm=1472229265 2x)
![Conor Coady Conor Coady](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/small/128901-1668090438.jpg?lm=1 1x, https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/kompakt/128901-1668090438.jpg?lm=1 2x)
![Conor Coady Conor Coady](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1003.png?lm=1472229265 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1003.png?lm=1472229265 2x)
![Harry Souttar Harry Souttar](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/small/298091-1669819322.jpg?lm=1 1x, https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/kompakt/298091-1669819322.jpg?lm=1 2x)
![Harry Souttar Harry Souttar](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1003.png?lm=1472229265 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1003.png?lm=1472229265 2x)
![Kelechi Iheanacho Kelechi Iheanacho](https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/small/295330-1617442598.jpg?lm=1 1x, https://img.a.transfermarkt.technology/portrait/kompakt/295330-1617442598.jpg?lm=1 2x)
![Kelechi Iheanacho Kelechi Iheanacho](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1003.png?lm=1472229265 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1003.png?lm=1472229265 2x)
![Leicester City Leicester City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1003.png?lm=1472229265 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1003.png?lm=1472229265 2x)
![Ipswich Town Ipswich Town](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/677.png?lm=1407655249 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/677.png?lm=1407655249 2x)
![Leeds United Leeds United](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/399.png?lm=1645652224 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/399.png?lm=1645652224 2x)
![Southampton FC Southampton FC](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/180.png?lm=1444560086 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/180.png?lm=1444560086 2x)
![West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/984.png?lm=1457991758 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/984.png?lm=1457991758 2x)
![Hull City Hull City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/3008.png?lm=1562662491 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/3008.png?lm=1562662491 2x)
![Norwich City Norwich City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1123.png?lm=1655469640 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1123.png?lm=1655469640 2x)
![Coventry City Coventry City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/990.png?lm=1684518179 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/990.png?lm=1684518179 2x)
![Preston North End Preston North End](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/466.png?lm=1414769167 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/466.png?lm=1414769167 2x)
![Sunderland AFC Sunderland AFC](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/289.png?lm=1485645633 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/289.png?lm=1485645633 2x)
![Cardiff City Cardiff City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/603.png?lm=1478337063 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/603.png?lm=1478337063 2x)
![Watford FC Watford FC](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1010.png?lm=1468103673 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1010.png?lm=1468103673 2x)
![Bristol City Bristol City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/698.png?lm=1571314125 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/698.png?lm=1571314125 2x)
![Middlesbrough FC Middlesbrough FC](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/641.png?lm=1697546042 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/641.png?lm=1697546042 2x)
![Swansea City Swansea City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/2288.png?lm=1658400285 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/2288.png?lm=1658400285 2x)
![Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/2262.png?lm=1411464792 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/2262.png?lm=1411464792 2x)
![Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/164.png?lm=1495228542 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/164.png?lm=1495228542 2x)
![Millwall FC Millwall FC](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1028.png?lm=1564722431 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1028.png?lm=1564722431 2x)
![Birmingham City Birmingham City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/337.png?lm=1672321276 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/337.png?lm=1672321276 2x)
![Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1039.png?lm=1464680692 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1039.png?lm=1464680692 2x)
![Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1110.png?lm=1567439677 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1110.png?lm=1567439677 2x)
![Stoke City Stoke City](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/512.png?lm=1472243727 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/512.png?lm=1472243727 2x)
![Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1035.png?lm=1643214896 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1035.png?lm=1643214896 2x)
![Rotherham United Rotherham United](https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/small/1194.png?lm=1407655489 1x, https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/wappen/homepageSmall/1194.png?lm=1407655489 2x)