Asian League's "Million-Dollar" Asian Player Valuation List: Wang Yudong Leads Chinese Trio

By Han Bing After the CSL's halfway stage, Transfermarkt updated its player values. Wang Yudong of Zhejiang FC rose by €300,000 from the end of last year to €1.8 million, overtaking naturalized star Serginho as China's top-valued local player.

However, among Asian players competing in Asian leagues, the "million-dollar" club totals 143 individuals from 14 countries and regions. China has only three—Wang Yudong, Serginho, and Shenhua's Zhu Chenjie (€1 million)—tying with Qatar for eighth place. This is a fraction of Japan's 44, and far behind the UAE (25), Saudi Arabia (19), Iran (16), Uzbekistan (12), South Korea (8), and Australia (6). Syria and Jordan each have two.

In the "million-dollar" rankings, China features just Wang Yudong, Serginho, and Zhu Chenjie. Compared to Japan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia—all with double-digit entries—China's group disadvantage is stark.

Japan's 44 players all compete in the J1 League, spread across 15 clubs. Among them, 37 are valued between €1 million and €2 million, and seven are at €2 million or higher, including high-valued goalkeepers like Hayakawa Yuki (€2 million), Taniguchi Akito (€1.7 million), and Nishikawa Kosuke. The J1 League's long-standing emphasis on domestic talent creates a collective effect, clearly reflected in the valuation list. Notably, Japan's group includes Gao Yuyang, a Chinese-heritage midfielder playing for FC Tokyo and son of former Chinese international Gao Sheng.

Kashima Antlers goalkeeper Hayakawa Yuki

The UAE's 36 players include 20 naturalized after adulthood, in sharp contrast to Japan. Saudi Arabia's 19 all come from their domestic league. Iran's 19 have 10 from the Iranian league and six from the UAE league. Uzbekistan's 12 are evenly split: six at home and six in Iran and the UAE. South Korea's eight include five in the K1 League and three in the UAE and J1 League. Behind China, Syria and Jordan's four selected players all play as "expatriates" in other Asian leagues.

Statistics show that most of the 143 players ply their trade in domestic leagues; only 19 are "expatriates" in other Asian leagues, confirming that home-grown development remains the mainstream.

Unfortunately, even compared to Qatar—which has a similar number of players—Chinese player values fall far short. Afif (€8 million) tops Asia, Almoez (€2.5 million) is tied for 11th, and naturalized player Edmilson (€1.8 million) ranks 30th, level with Wang Yudong.

At the season's start, Wang Yudong and Serginho were tied as the highest-valued domestic players (€1.5 million). After the first half of the CSL season, Wang rose by €300,000 to €1.8 million, taking sole lead. Since Transfermarkt began valuations in 2004, Wang Yudong is the 26th Chinese player to reach €1 million. His current value ties him with Serginho for 10th on the all-time Chinese player valuation list.

Excluding Chinese players who have gone abroad or been naturalized, Wang Yudong is now the highest-valued Chinese player ever in an Asian league, behind only Wu Lei. Before moving to Espanyol at the end of 2018, Wu Lei's value was €3.5 million. In the first half of 2023, after returning from Espanyol, Wu Lei was valued at €2 million. In the three and a half years since, only Serginho and Wang Yudong have exceeded €1 million among Chinese players.

However, within Asia, Wang Yudong currently ranks only tied for 30th. Even after removing the 10 adult-naturalized players from the UAE, Wang would move up just 10 spots.

Topping the list is Qatari forward Afif (€8 million), whose value is 4.4 times Wang Yudong's. Iran's Azmoun and Saudi Arabia's Musab (€6 million) follow, with UAE naturalized player Lima (€5 million) in fourth.

Among Asian league Asian players valued higher than Wang, the UAE has 10 (all adult-naturalized), Japan 7, Saudi Arabia 4, Iran 3, Qatar and Uzbekistan 2 each, and Syria 1.

Wang Yudong is tied at €1.8 million with six others: Tambakti and Shamat (Saudi Arabia), Miyashiro Taisei (Japan), Ezatolahi (Iran), Caudiao (UAE), and Edmilson (Qatar).

Among Asian league Asian players, only five are under 23. Wang Yudong ranks fourth in age, older only than Saudi Arabia's Sabri (18), but the latter is valued at €2.5 million. The highest-valued is Saudi midfielder Musab (€6 million), who will soon turn 23. Last season, he recorded 6 goals and 12 assists in 31 league matches. The abundance of high-valued foreign players in the Saudi league has boosted local player values. Japan's Sato Ryunosuke (FC Tokyo), only a month older than Wang, is valued at €2 million. In the first half of the J1 League's "centenary" special season, he contributed 6 goals and 1 assist, with a goal efficiency (one goal per 218 minutes) and goal involvement efficiency (one per 186 minutes) both higher than Wang's.

For Chinese football, to enter Asia's top tier—at least in terms of player values—more players should appear on the list. Even if matching Japan's overwhelming lead is impossible, China should strive to catch up with Australia, South Korea, Iran, and Uzbekistan. Of course, player values are closely tied to performances in the CSL, AFC Champions League, and the national team's showings in major tournaments.