In tonight’s AFC Champions League Group H showdown, Guangzhou Evergrande will face Urawa Red Diamonds in a pivotal away match. This game could be a turning point in Evergrande’s campaign, as their qualification for the knockout stages hangs in the balance. On paper, Evergrande holds a clear edge in overall strength—a gap that becomes even more evident when comparing the market value of the two squads.
According to the latest data, Guangzhou Evergrande’s total squad value is an impressive €64.1 million, while Urawa Red Diamonds come in at just €18.85 million. Evergrande is widely regarded as a powerhouse in Asian football, having won the AFC Champions League in both 2013 and 2015. They are once again among the favorites for the title this season. However, their performance in the first three group stage matches has been underwhelming—two draws and one loss—which falls short of the expectations placed on a reigning champion and a squad of their market worth.
Evergrande ranks second among all teams in the AFC Champions League in terms of total squad value, narrowly trailing Jiangsu Suning (€64.48 million). The most valuable player on Evergrande’s roster is Colombian striker Jackson Martínez, whose market value alone stands at €30 million—surpassing the entire Urawa team. Two other players on the squad are valued in the tens of millions: attacking midfielder Ricardo Goulart (€12 million) and Brazilian midfielder Paulinho (€10 million).
The team also includes three players valued in the million-euro range, such as Alan (€3 million), who, notably, is not included in Evergrande’s Champions League squad. Among domestic players, Zhang Linpeng leads the way with a market value of €1.2 million, while South Korean defender Kim Young-Gwon is valued at €1 million.
In stark contrast, Urawa Red Diamonds’ total squad value is only about 29.4% of Evergrande’s, standing at €18.85 million. No Urawa player is valued above €10 million, and only seven players reach the million-euro mark. Interestingly, all seven of these players are Japanese, indicating that while Urawa may trail Evergrande in total market value, their domestic talent holds stronger individual valuations than Evergrande’s Chinese players.
Urawa’s most valuable players, each estimated at €1.5 million, include Shusaku Nishikawa, Yosuke Kashiwagi, and Tomoaki Makino. Shinzo Koroki is valued at €1.3 million, while Wataru Endo stands at €1.2 million. Ryohei Mura and Takahiro Sekine are each worth €1.1 million.
Despite this stark difference in market value, tonight’s match is anything but a foregone conclusion. Evergrande’s disappointing start—earning just two points from three matches—means they are under intense pressure, and every remaining game is now a must-win. Whether the club can translate its financial firepower into on-pitch dominance against Urawa remains to be seen.
As the saying goes, “money can’t buy success”—and in football, that truth often plays out on the pitch. All eyes will be on whether Guangzhou Evergrande can live up to their price tag and deliver when it matters most.