The world's most expensive defenders in 2025: Saliba leads the way!

The French international defender William Saliba, a cornerstone of Arsenal, tops the ranking of the most expensive defenders in the world this season, according to the latest market value update published by the reference site Transfermarkt.

With an estimated value of 80 million euros, the Gunners' rock takes the top spot globally, tied with Italian Alessandro Bastoni, defender of Inter Milan.

Notably, only one African player makes the top 10: Achraf Hakimi, right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, valued at 65 million euros, placing him in eighth position.

The top 10 most expensive defenders in 2025!

1. William Saliba (France) – Arsenal – 80 M€
   
2. Alessandro Bastoni (Italy) – Inter Milan – 80 M€
   
3. Joško Gvardiol (Croatia) – Manchester City – 75 M€
   
4. Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil) – Arsenal – 75 M€
   
5. Trent Alexander-Arnold (England) – Liverpool – 75 M€
   
6. Pau Cubarsí (Spain) – FC Barcelona – 70 M€
   
7. Rúben Dias (Portugal) – Manchester City – 70 M€
   
8. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – Paris Saint-Germain – 65 M€
   
9. Alejandro Baldé (Spain) – FC Barcelona – 60 M€
   
10. Jules Koundé (France) – FC Barcelona – 60 M€
    

Read also: Achraf Hakimi talks about the best full-backs of the moment!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.