The 5 Most Valuable Players In the National League North.

Top 5 Most Valuable National League North Footballers;

1. Marcel Lewis (Curzon Ashton Fc- On Loan from Burnley Fc) – £150,000

The Cambridge born winger is first on our list after having joined Chelsea in September 2016, earning his scholarship in 2018, featuring regularly for Chelsea’s under 18’s squad. Then on May the 11th 2021 Lewis opted to leave Chelsea after being promoted to their Under 23’s squad during the 2020-2021 season, for Belgian side Unions SG on a three year deal. Before joining League One outfit Accrinton Stanley on loan for the remainder of the 2021-2022 season where he only managed a total of three appearances. To which then Championship side Burnley Fc picked him up on a two year deal but then a year later sent him out on loan to Dundee until January 2023 however unfortunately for Lewis he failed to make a single appearance for the Scottish Premiership side. Now he has found himself on loan at Curzon Ashton Fc until the end of the season. 

2. David Moyo (Spennymoor Town – on loan from Chorley Fc) – £200,000

Next up is Chorley Fc’s David Moyo, the Zimbabweian forward is a bit of a Non-League journeyman having spent multiple loan spells at a variety of Non-League clubs in the early stages of his career such as Kettering Town, Corby Town, Stamford and Brackley Town. He then signed permanently for Brackley Town in 2015 before going on to play for other clubs such as Ex Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical. In November 2020 Moyo was called up to the Zimbabwe men’s national team for their upcoming African cup of nations qualifiers. He has since gone on to make 5 appearances for the national team.

3. Zan Luk Leban (Farsley Celtic Fc – On loan from Everton) – £200,000

The Slovenian shot stopper is next up on our list also valued at £200,000, Zan Luk Leban joined Everton’s youth academy in the summer of 2019. He even managed to be included in Everton’s squad for their Fa-Cup quarter final in 2020-2021 against Manchester city due to injuries within the squad however he was an unused sub. In February of 2023 he signed a contract extension with The Toffees until the summer of 2025 before being sent out on loan in August 2023 to Farsley Celtic until the end of the season. Zan Luk Leban has also represented Slovenia at U16,U17 and U21’s level a combined 18 times during his career so far. 

4. Christian Norton (Chester Fc) – £225,000

Our Penultimate player on this list is Welsh forward Christian Norton. Norton began his career at Southampton before making his senior debut for the U23’s in the EFL trophy against Cambridge United. However unfortunately for Norton he was released by Southampton at the end of the 2019-20 season before going on trial with Stoke City in October 2020 and going on to join their U23’s squad a month later. Norton then went on to make his Football league debut for Stoke in 2021 against Cardiff city in a 0-0 draw. Before joining League one side Cheltenham Town in August 2021 on loan until January before unfortunately being released by his parent club Stoke City at the end of that season (2021-22). The Robins then decided to sign the Welshman on a one year deal on August the 12th 2022, where Norton made 23 appearances before Cheltnem released him at the end of his contract to which Chester signed him up in November 2023. 

5. Deji Sotona – (Boston United) –  £250,000

Finally the last player on this list and the most valuable player within the National League North is Irish forward Deji Sotona. After playing youth football in Ireland for local club Mullingar Athletic at 13 he signed for Manchester United, even being named fastest player at the club ahead of players such as Marcus Rashford and Diogo Dalot etc. However at the end of his 4 year deal at Man United the youngster rejected a 3 year contract extension and left as a free agent in September 2020. Before a phone call from Patrick Viera who was manager of French outfit OGC Nice persuaded the youngster to join the Ligue 1 side on the promise the manager would give him a lot of game time. Unfortunately for Sotona Viera was sacked in December 2020 and new manager Adrian Ursea assigned Sotona to the reserves. Over the next few years after the Pandemic Sotona went on to play for various clubs on loan including Brentford B and Kilmarnock, before the Irishman moved to Burnley in January 2023 playing for their academy squad until the end of the season. In the summer of 2023 Sotona joined League two side Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer after being released by Burnley before joining his current club Boston united on loan in November 2023 until the end of the season.