After enjoying a soaring debut campaign in the Premier League, Lyle Foster has seen his market value take a sharp decline over the past 18 months.
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Looking ahead to the 2025/26 season, no other Bafana Bafana striker will be competing at a higher level than the English top flight, where the Johannesburg-born forward is set to feature once again. It will mark Foster’s second campaign in the Premier League, having initially debuted in the 2023/24 season.
The 23-year-old made an immediate impact in his first stint in the league. Under Vincent Kompany, Foster was a key figure in Burnley’s attack, registering either a goal or an assist in each of his first seven matches — a flying start in what is widely considered the most competitive league in world football.
During this impressive run, his Transfermarkt valuation surged. By October 2023, the former Orlando Pirates striker was valued at €13 million (R270 million). However, things took a turn soon after. Foster was diagnosed with depression, which ruled him out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Later that same season, he also suffered a muscle injury.
Despite these setbacks, his market value held steady for close to a year. But Burnley's relegation to the EFL Championship and a subsequent serious knee injury — sustained while on international duty — compounded his misfortunes. That injury sidelined him for two months and led to a valuation dip to €9 million (R187 million).
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Since then, his market value has continued to decline and now sits at €6 million (R124 million). Nevertheless, with Burnley securing a return to the Premier League, Foster will be aiming to recapture his early form and elevate his valuation to new heights.
