Illya Zabarnyi Named Among World's Most Valuable Centre-Backs

Illya Zabarnyi, the rising Ukrainian talent currently playing for Bournemouth, has been ranked as the sixth most valuable central defender in world football, according to a new study by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES).

The 21-year-old, who has steadily impressed in the Premier League with his composure and tactical awareness, finds himself in elite company. With a market value of €67.1 million, Zabarnyi sits just behind some of Europe’s biggest defensive names in the latest CIES Football Observatory ranking.

Unsurprisingly, top spot goes to Pau Cubarsí, the 17-year-old phenomenon from Barcelona, whose meteoric rise over the past year has turned him into a global star. English clubs dominate the top 10, with players from Arsenal, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth all represented.

Top 10 Most Valuable Centre-Backs in World Football (CIES, in € million):

 1. Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – €109.6M
 2. Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen) – €88.5M
 3. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) – €85M
 4. Levi Colwill (Chelsea) – €83.1M
 5. William Saliba (Arsenal) – €79M
 6. Illya Zabarnyi (Bournemouth) – €67.1M
 7. Willian Pacho (Eintracht Frankfurt) – €65.5M
 8. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) – €63.4M
 9. Murillo (Nottingham Forest) – €60.3M
 10. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) – €59.9M