Million-euro stars on the bench: a striking picture in Europe's top five leagues

In European football, a high market value is not always enough to secure regular playing time. At the clubs with the most valuable squads in the world, many players are having to settle for limited minutes. While the situation of young players who joined for high transfer fees in the summer transfer window stands out in particular, some star names have also lost their places in the starting line-up because of increased competition. The analysis, which covers Europe's top five leagues, features players such as Endrick, Estêvão and Martín Zubimendi, as well as Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose market value has reached €90m.

At Newcastle United, the case of Bazoumana Touré, signed from Hoffenheim for €50m in the summer transfer window, came to the fore. The 20-year-old Ivorian, who caught the eye with his performances for the German side, has not yet had the minutes expected of him in his first season in England. Despite being in the squad for 13 of Newcastle's matches, Touré has played only 186 minutes, leaving his share of available minutes at 15.9 per cent. His team-mate Matias Fernandez-Pardo, whose market value is €55m, presented a similar picture with 344 minutes and a share of 29.4 per cent. The fact that the Belgian joined the team on the final day of the transfer window was also one of the factors taken into account in the assessment.

At Manchester City, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Vitor Reis and Allan were also among the players with limited minutes, alongside Bouaddi. Aït-Nouri, whose market value is €35m, played 168 minutes, while Vitor Reis and Allan, each valued at €30m, played 199 and 250 minutes respectively. For all three players, the overall share of available minutes remained below 17 per cent.

The study looked at players who have been named in the matchday squad for at least two thirds of the matches played in all competitions since the start of the season, but who have been on the pitch for less than one third of the total possible playing time. The process of adapting to a new club, head coach changes and intense competition within the squad were cited among the main reasons for players' limited minutes. It was notable in the study that clubs with high squad values, such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, featured prominently.

The most valuable player on the list was Ayyoub Bouaddi, whom Manchester City signed from Lille for €95m in the summer transfer window. The 19-year-old midfielder, whose current market value is €90m, has been on the pitch for only 439 minutes despite being in the squad for all 17 of his team's official matches. With an overall share of available minutes of 28.7 per cent, the youngster has nevertheless found a place in the rotation by featuring in 10 matches. As Bouaddi is spending his first season outside France, this picture is being viewed as part of an adaptation process.

At Chelsea, meanwhile, the playing time of Estêvão, who has a market value of €80m, has become a talking point. Despite his high potential and cost, the young Brazilian winger is still struggling to find regular opportunities in his team's large attacking rotation.