Atalanta’s teenage sensation Honest Ahanor has become Nigeria’s most valuable footballer under the age of 20, Soccernet.ng reports.
According to the latest data released by Transfermarkt, the 17-year-old left-back, who only joined Atalanta this summer from Genoa, is now valued at €20 million, a career-high mark.
Ahanor’s ascent is a new milestone in his young career.
Since his €17 million move to Bergamo, he has made four Serie A appearances and featured twice in the UEFA Champions League, quickly earning admiration for his pace, defensive awareness, and tactical versatility. Capable of playing as a centre-back or left midfielder, his adaptability has made him one of the most talked-about teenagers in Italy.
Born in Campania to Nigerian parents, Ahanor moved to Genoa as a baby and grew up entirely within the Italian football system.
However, despite his Italian upbringing, he remains eligible to play only for Nigeria, as Italian law no longer grant automatic citizenship to children born in Italy to foreign parents. He can only apply for citizenship after turning 18 and proving continuous residence. For now, Ahanor’s international future lies firmly in Nigerian hands.
By reaching the €20 million mark, Ahanor has overtaken AS Monaco forward George Ilenikhena (€15 million) to become Nigeria’s most valuable teenage player.
Others on the top-five list include Uchenna Ogundu of Alanyaspor (€1.5 million), Club Brugge’s Vince Osuji (€1.2 million), and Daniel Daga (€900,000), the 18-year-old Nigeria Flying Eagles midfielder widely tipped for future Super Eagles stardom.
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Nigeria market shifts: Bassey, Arokodare rise as Boniface, Lookman dip
Beyond Ahanor’s breakthrough, several Super Eagles stars have experienced notable market movements, both upward and downward, in the latest Transfermarkt valuation updates.
Leading the line is Victor Osimhen, whose
value has climbed to €75 million, consolidating his status as Nigeria’s most valuable footballer and one of Europe’s elite strikers.
Not far behind is Calvin Bassey, who continues to impress for Fulham and Nigeria. The 24-year-old defender’s value has surged to €28 million, making him the country’s top-rated defender.
Meanwhile, Tolu Arokodare, who joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Club Brugge this summer for €26 million, has entered Nigeria’s top ten most valuable players with a current market value of €25 million, his career best so far. Though yet to open his Premier League goal account, the 24-year-old forward’s potential remains highly rated.
There are also boosts for Bright Osayi-Samuel, now worth €7 million following his summer move to Birmingham from Fenerbahçe, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, the Inter Milan-owned midfielder whose valuation has doubled to €4.5 million after a strong run with Pisa.
Chidozie Awaziem’s steady form at Nantes has also lifted his value to €3 million.
However, not all Nigerian stars are on the rise.
Victor Boniface’s struggles at Werder Bremen have seen his value halved, from €40 million to €20 million, as he searches for consistency.
Ademola Lookman, another Atalanta star, has also suffered a setback, dropping from €60 million to €40 million amid limited action this season.
Elsewhere, Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury troubles at Nottingham Forest have pulled his value down to €14 million, while Wilfred Ndidi’s move to Besiktas has not been met with similar optimism in the valuation charts, dropping to €12 million.
Veterans Moses Simon (€10 million) and Joe Aribo (€5 million) have also been marked down, the latter yet to feature this season for Southampton.