Transfermarkt: Between Lukaku and Bellingham – Camarda among most valuable 16-year-olds ever

Francesco Camarda might just be the most talked about 16-year-old player in Italy at the moment, something that is reflected in his valuation.

According to the analysis from Transfermarkt (via Calciomercato.com), Camarda is actually up there among the most valuable 16-year-olds of all time, taking into consideration their market value – as worked out by their algorithm – at the time they turned 16.

Camarda became the youngest debutant in the history of Serie A at 15 years, 8 months and 15 days earlier this season and having turned 16 on 10 March, the striker has a valuation of €10m which is the highest for a player at his age in Italian history.

It is a figure that allows him to overtake the previous record holder Pietro Pellegri, and to overtake former AC Milan player Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Camarda also equals Romelu Lukaku’s market value at 16 and even comes close to a player that is now a global phenomenon in Jude Bellingham, though he was at €12m.

The world record holders, however, are very far away: Eduardo Camavinga is in third place at double Camarda’s value (€20m), then Ansu Fati was worth €25m in 2019, and Yama Laminae is worth a staggering €60m.

Now Milan must try and resolve the renewal of Camarda’s contract, given that he is eligible to sign a professional deal but is attracting interest from top clubs. The management, however, remain calm.