£238m! This is the most expensive footballer on the planet right now

Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham has been labeled the most expensive footballer in the world as he prepares to face his old team, Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League final.

Bellingham moved from Dortmund to Madrid last summer for a fee of £88 million (€103m, $111m), but that value has nearly trebled after a historic year in which he won La Liga Player of the Year.

According to the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory, Bellingham is worth a staggering £238 million (€280m, $303m) after more than 5,500 paid transfer deals were analyzed.

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According to The Sun, CIES factors in "age, length of contract, minutes and starting minutes, competition level, results, the economic strength of the player's club and league, potential buyers and inflation."

Bellingham's exploits in his first season for Madrid have put him amongst the best players in the world, scoring 19 goals and providing six assists in La Liga, finishing joint-third in the La Liga top scorer charts.

The recent survey has proved positive for England fans as we head into the 2024 European Championships in Germany, with Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden featuring highly on the list.

CIES analysts report that Phil Foden is worth £174 million (€204m, 221m) after winning the Premier League Player of the Year, and Bukayo Saka is valued at £166 million (€195m, $211m).

Shockingly, Bellingham ranks above his former teammate Erling Haaland in the list, despite the Norwegian scoring 90 goals in 98 appearances for Manchester City. The England ace is worth £21 million (€24m, $26.6m) more than City's star player.

After such a high valuation, Bellingham will be heavily scrutinized to perform and produce the goods for Real Madrid in the Champions League final and England at the European Championships.

Is Jude Bellingham the best player in the world currently, or has a player been robbed of the title 'the most expensive footballer in the world?'

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