Honest Ahanor, the rising star at Atalanta, has recently been crowned Nigeria’s most valuable footballer under 20, according to Soccernet.ng.
Transfermarkt‘s latest data reveals that the 17-year-old left-back, who transferred from Genoa to Atalanta during the summer, now commands a market value of €20 million-his highest valuation to date.
This impressive figure underscores the swift advancement of Ahanor’s promising career.
UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2″ width=”750″ height=”501″ />Since Atalanta invested €17 million to secure his services, Ahanor has featured in four Serie A matches and appeared twice in the UEFA Champions League. His explosive speed, keen defensive instincts, and versatility have earned him widespread praise. Comfortable both as a centre-back and on the left side of defense, he is rapidly emerging as one of Italy’s most exciting young talents.
Born in Italy’s Campania region to Nigerian parents, Ahanor relocated to Genoa as an infant and has been developed entirely within the Italian football framework.
Despite his Italian upbringing, Ahanor remains eligible solely for Nigeria at the international level. Italian citizenship laws do not automatically confer nationality to children born on Italian soil to foreign parents; citizenship eligibility arises only after age 18, subject to continuous residence. Consequently, his international allegiance is firmly with Nigeria.
With his current valuation at €20 million, Ahanor has surpassed AS Monaco’s forward George Ilenikhena, who is valued at €15 million, to claim the title of Nigeria’s most valuable under-20 footballer.
Other rising Nigerian prospects rounding out the top five include Alanyaspor’s Uchenna Ogundu (€1.5 million), Club Brugge’s Vince Osuji (€1.2 million), and the highly touted 18-year-old midfielder Daniel Daga (€900,000), who is widely regarded as a future mainstay for the Super Eagles.
Stay updated with the latest sports news – Subscribe to Our WhatsApp Channel Today!
Shifting Market Trends Among Nigerian Footballers: Bassey and Arokodare Climb as Boniface and Lookman Decline
Beyond Ahanor’s rise, the newest Transfermarkt update highlights significant fluctuations in the market values of several Nigerian internationals.
At the forefront is Victor Osimhen, whose valuation has surged to €75 million, cementing his position as Nigeria’s priciest player and one of Europe’s top forwards.
Trailing closely is 24-year-old defender Calvin Bassey, whose impressive performances for Fulham and the Nigerian national team have boosted his market value to €28 million, making him the highest-valued Nigerian defender.
Meanwhile, Tolu Arokodare has broken into Nigeria’s top ten most valuable players after his €26 million move from Club Brugge to Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer. Although the 24-year-old striker has yet to score in the Premier League, his current valuation stands at €25 million, reflecting his promising potential.
Other Nigerian players on the rise include Bright Osayi-Samuel, whose value has climbed to €7 million following his transfer to Birmingham from Fenerbahçe, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, whose market price has doubled to €4.5 million after an impressive loan stint at Pisa from Inter Milan.
Consistent performances from Chidozie Awaziem at Nantes have also increased his valuation to €3 million.
However, not all Nigerian players have seen their market values rise.
Victor Boniface’s difficulties at Werder Bremen have caused his value to drop by half, from €40 million to €20 million, as he strives to regain his best form.
Similarly, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman has experienced a decline, with his market value falling from €60 million to €40 million due to limited playing time this season.
Injuries have also impacted Taiwo Awoniyi’s market value, which has decreased to €14 million during his time at Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, Wilfred Ndidi’s recent transfer to Besiktas has not boosted his market price, which has slipped to €12 million.
Veteran Nigerian players Moses Simon (€10 million) and Joe Aribo (€5 million) have similarly seen their valuations decline, with Aribo yet to make an appearance for Southampton this season.