The era of the No.6 midfielder is now upon us, and in reality, it has been here for quite some time. Over the last two years, the prices for midfield players who provide versatility, often embodying a box-to-box presence with physicality and all-around brilliance, have seen substantial inflation.
Out of the top 15 transfers of all time made since 2021, only Romelu Lukaku and Jack Grealish do not fit the mold of these emerging No.6 midfielders. While not as high up on the list as his contemporaries, Aurelien Tchouameni played a significant role in initiating this trend.
In 2021, while Chelsea signed Lukaku and opted not to seriously pursue Tchouameni, they signed Saul Niguez. Tchouameni, however, was transferred to Real Madrid for around £80 million ($97 million). Since then, the market has witnessed remarkable developments.
Three players, all 24 years or younger, have commanded fees exceeding £100 million ($124 million). Jude Bellingham, at £88 million ($107 million), came close to that figure. All of these players have moved within the past 12 months, with Enzo Fernandez (£106.5 million, $129.5 million) kicking things off, followed by Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal for £105 million ($127.67 million), and Moises Caicedo becoming the most expensive at £115 million ($139.8 million).
As a result, this trend has inadvertently raised the price floor for other players with a similar playing style and position. Romeo Lavia saw his value surpass £50 million ($62 million) later in the summer, while Chelsea had already increased their asking price for Conor Gallagher. Somewhat under the radar is Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz.
The 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder is currently in excellent form under Unai Emery, with Villa just two points off the top of the table. Only Manchester City has more wins than Villa, and no team has scored more goals.
In this market, Luiz still appears to be a remarkably cost-effective option. He was on the verge of leaving Villa last summer, with both Arsenal and Tottenham expressing interest in signing him. It was believed he might eventually become available for free.
However, last summer, Villa extended his contract until 2026 and has not looked back. They faced a significant challenge in retaining their star player, rejecting offers from Arsenal of up to £25 million ($30 million). That price now appears relatively small compared to his current valuation. The CIES Football Observatory estimated a price similar to Arsenal’s offers, but reports suggested that even with only 12 months remaining on his contract at the time, it could have taken up to £50 million ($62 million) to secure his transfer from the Midlands.
Now, the same site values Luiz at around £45 million ($55 million). This reflects his increased importance to Villa and Emery, marking a significant rise for the former Girona and Manchester City player. Luiz arrived in England as a promising yet relatively unknown talent on the big stage. He has demonstrated his ability to anchor a midfield, playing as a lone defensive-minded player, in a pivot, and even as a team conductor.
FBREF’s metrics compare his performance to that of Bruno Guimaraes, one of the top midfielders in the country, as well as former Arsenal target Youri Tielemans. Today, however, Luiz would command a higher fee than even his market value suggests.
Villa not only finds themselves in a stronger position as competitors for the top four and European placements, but they also have an accomplished manager with a strong pedigree and an ambitious team that continues to grow. Luiz plays a central role in this progress. His efforts, which have often gone underappreciated, have led to a significant increase in his market value, as reflected by Transfermarkt. The site now estimates his worth at £48 million ($58.2 million), almost double the offers Arsenal and Spurs were considering last year.
Both clubs had been actively exploring midfield reinforcements during the summer. Spurs, for instance, tested Chelsea’s resolve for Gallagher, while Arsenal appeared to be losing Thomas Partey as well as Granit Xhaka. This left Mikel Arteta with limited midfield options, with perhaps too much reliance on Jorginho.
While Jorginho started alongside Rice at Stamford Bridge, he was outpaced and outperformed by Gallagher, Fernandez, and Caicedo. This was somewhat expected, considering Jorginho was sold for just £10 million ($12 million) in January and replaced by younger, more numerous players. Nonetheless, what now matters for Arsenal is quality, and Luiz brings a more well-rounded game.
He not only poses a more significant threat in the final third, ranking in the top seven percent for non-penalty goals among midfielders, but he also excels in off-ball work, thanks to his ability to cover ground. As a genuine Xhaka replacement, a role that Kai Havertz seems to be struggling with, Luiz is a more physical presence.
Given that Partey’s contract is set to expire in just over 18 months, there is also a discussion to be had about whether Luiz could serve as a long-term replacement for Arteta’s secondary midfielder. In this scenario, he would be addressing two needs with one player, and he still has plenty of room for development.
What’s intriguing is that Tottenham could also benefit from a player of his caliber. While the midfield has been the linchpin of Ange Postecoglou’s success since the summer, vulnerabilities have been exposed within the team after Yves Bissouma’s red card. This leaves Spurs relying on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for their upcoming match against
Fulham on Monday.”