Market values USL Championship: Wynder increases record - Jamison one to watch

Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 555 players playing in the USL Championship, and a future Benfica star remains at the very top of the ranking: Louisville City FC defender Joshua Wynder. The 18-year-old defender was the first player in USL Championship history with a market value of €1 million or more, and with a transfer now close, that market value has been increased by another 20% to €1.2m. 

Wynder, therefore, is not just the most valuable player in the USL Championship. But he also ranks among the top of the most valuable center-backs born in 2005 (overview). The current market value also reflects the fee paid by Benfica, which will be an initial €1.12m but can rise to around €1.7m thanks to easy-to-reach variables. Wynder currently represents the United States at the U20 World Cup in Argentina. 

Market Value

J. Wynder Centre-Back

€1.20m

The Louisville City star highlights that the USL Championship increasingly is a place that can produce top talent for European clubs. In fact, another player to keep an eye on is Bryce Jamison from Orange County SC. The 17-year-old winger has earned consistent playing time this season and has already trained with Orange County’s partner club Feyenoord where he left a positive impression, and the expectations are that he will head to the Netherlands sooner rather than later. With that in mind, Jamison’s market value jumps from €50,000 to €300,000. 

USL Championship update: Drew Murray and Ethan Kohler Bundesliga-bound

Wynder and Jamison are two examples of USL Championship players heading to Europe. Ethan Kohler and Drew Murray from Oakland Roots SC have recently made headlines for their respective moves to Werder Bremen and Freiburg, respectively. Both are set to head to Europe this winter and received a starting market value of €25,000. 

“In Murray and Kohler, two Oakland players are likely headed to Germany,” Transfermarkt Data Administrator North America Dominic Becker said. “Once those deals are complete, both Murray and Kohler will likely feature for the respective second teams. With a market value of €25,000, both players would fit right in with other players already with those respective squads.”

Market Value

A. Dikwa Centre-Forward

€350k

Wynder, Jamison, Murray, and Kohler represent the USL Championship’s increasing ability to produce young players for the European market. But there are more established players that have used the league to increase their market value standing. One good example is Albert Dikwa from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. By the time of writing, the 25-year-old Cameroonian forward led the league with nine goals in 10 games, and Dikwa saw his market value increase from €250,000 to €350,000. Transfermarkt has also updated the market values of the USL League One. Those market values can be found HERE!

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).