Jupiler Pro League market values: Joel Ordóñez now most valuable - Promise David up by 300%

Joel Ordóñez is the new most valuable player in Belgium after Transfermarkt updated the market values of 137 Jupiler Pro League players. After seeing his market value increase by 50% from €18 million to €27m, the Ecuadorian centre-back ranks ahead of his Club Brugge teammates Ardon Jashari (+€14m to €25m), Raphael Onyedika (+€4m to €20m) and Maxim De Cuyper (+€4m to €16m). 

Although the club is trailing KRC Genk in the league table, Club Brugge dominates the top of the market value standings. As is always the case in Belgian football, this can change quickly. “There is no doubt that he will move to the Premier League for at least €30m this summer,” Transfermarkt Area Manager Belgium Bart Tamsyn said. “He might even break the Belgian record of €33m without bonuses. After all, Ordóñez is a machine. He is mentally very strong, always remains very stoic, and cares little about his direct opponent. Only 20, he is a starting player for Ecuador already.” 

Even younger than Ordóñez is Genk’s Greek national team player, Konstantinos Karetsas. The 17-year-old has managed two goals and four assists in 30 games across all competitions and is considered one of the brightest prospects in Belgian football. “Karetsas is an incredible talent that Genk still handles with caution,” Tamsyn said. “They are developing him step-by-step, and he hasn't started three games in a row yet. However, his vision and passing skills are incredible.” The playmaker saw his market value increase by 85.7% from €7m to €13m. 

Jupiler Pro League: Canadian Promise David up by 300%

Among the players with the most significant market value increase by percentage is Canadian men’s national team striker Promise David. David saw his market value rise by 300% from €1.5m to €6m. With an increase of 400%, only Anderlecht’s 18-year-old Elyess Dao (+€400,000 to €500,000) and Charleroi’s Nikola Stulic (+€2m to €2.5m) saw their market value grow more by percentage than the Union Saint-Gilloise forward. 

“Along with attacking partner Franjo Ivanovic (+€4m to €8m), David had a tough start to the season,” Tamsyn said. “Union then attracted former Belgian international Kevin Miralles as a striker coach in November, and since then, both have improved immensely. When they started to hit form, Union started to hit form. Tenth in November, they are now challenging Genk and Brugge for the title. Since November, David has scored ten times in 17 league games. Although compared to Victor Boniface, there is still room for the Canadian to grow.”

Among the players with an upgrade is Westerlo defender Luka Vuskovic. On loan from Tottenham, Vuskovic saw his market value increase by 20% from €10m to €12m. Another player to watch is  Ezechiel Banzuzi from OH Leuven. The 20-year-old Dutch midfielder has already been linked to several European top clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, and, as a result, his market value increased by 100% from €5m to €10m.  

How Transfermarkt market values work

The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees. 

The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).