Illya Zabarnyi Named Among World's Most Valuable Centre-Backs

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English clubs dominate the top 10

Illya Zabarnyi, the rising Ukrainian talent currently playing for Bournemouth, has been ranked as the sixth most valuable central defender in world football, according to a new study by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES).

The 21-year-old, who has steadily impressed in the Premier League with his composure and tactical awareness, finds himself in elite company. With a market value of €67.1 million, Zabarnyi sits just behind some of Europe’s biggest defensive names in the latest CIES Football Observatory ranking.

Unsurprisingly, top spot goes to Pau Cubarsí, the 17-year-old phenomenon from Barcelona, whose meteoric rise over the past year has turned him into a global star. English clubs dominate the top 10, with players from Arsenal, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth all represented.

Top 10 Most Valuable Centre-Backs in World Football (CIES, in € million):

 1. Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – €109.6M
2. Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen) – €88.5M
3. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) – €85M
4. Levi Colwill (Chelsea) – €83.1M
5. William Saliba (Arsenal) – €79M
6. Illya Zabarnyi (Bournemouth) – €67.1M
7. Willian Pacho (Eintracht Frankfurt) – €65.5M
8. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) – €63.4M
9. Murillo (Nottingham Forest) – €60.3M
10. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) – €59.9M
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