Mbappe valued above what Jordan paid for Hornets

Kylian Mbappe. Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Kylian Mbappe valued above what Michael Jordan paid for Hornets

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 7/24/23

Kylian Mbappe is among the best soccer players on the planet. Blending blistering pace, and a keen eye for goal, the Paris Saint Germain forward could play for any team of his choosing.

However, hardly any team could afford Mbappe's transfer fee. In soccer, teams don't make trades. Instead, they purchase the rights to a player courtesy of a 'transfer.'

According to multiple reports, Saudi Arabian soccer team Al-Hilal have thrown their hat into the ring in an attempt to sign Mbappe this summer. The reported transfer offer is for $332M.

To put that into context, Al-Hilal is willing to spend more on Mbappe than what Michael Jordan paid when he originally acquired the Charlotte Hornets for $275M in 2010.

This is roughly a little bit more than what Michael Jordan originally paid for the whole Charlotte Hornets franchise... https://t.co/dxT2WEPq2a
— Adam Taylor (@AdamTaylorNBA) July 24, 2023

"Paris Saint-Germain have granted permission for Kylian Mbappe to speak to Al Hilal after the Saudi club's world-record £259M [$332M] bid," Sky Sports UK reported. "There is said to already be a "hot market" for the France captain with the interested clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Barcelona."

When Jordan parted with $275M, he was buying a whole franchise — an investment that recently saw him sell his shares for $3B. However, in the world of soccer, where large quantities of money exchange hands like Pokemon cards on early-2000s playgrounds, Mbappe's price appears to be deemed fair.

Should Mbappe's transfer to Al-Hilal go ahead, he will become the most expensive soccer player of all time. While Mbappe's transfer fee falls drastically short of an NBA franchise's value in 2023, it's mind-boggling to think he is worth more than what an NBA franchise cost just 13 years ago.

The Hornets were once one of Jordan's most expensive purchases. Now, $275M wouldn't even build a high-level soccer team. The sporting world is changing, and Mbappe is reaping the benefits of those changes.

More must-reads: