It’s been a bit of a rough season for Liverpool. The Reds were coming off a Premier League title and spent €482.9m on transfers during the summer window, only to be fighting for fourth place at the halfway point in the season. There has been a ton of drama around...
The Bundesliga has been a very fun league to follow so far this season, despite FC Bayern already running away with the title race. We have seen a lot happening so far: coaching changes after just two matchdays, a historic start to the season by Harry Kane, a very tight...
Axel Disasi joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for a €45m fee, but has not been able to make the impact Chelsea fans, owners, or even himself were looking for. Disasi started off quite well in his first season at the club, playing 31 Premier League matches and 2,581...
In an era in which goalkeepers are evaluated as much for their involvement in the build-up phase as for their ability to prevent goals, Bruno Antúnez has established himself as one of the most interesting profiles in the position within the Uruguayan First Division. At just 22 years of age,...
Over the past couple of weeks, Total Football Analysis has brought out in-depth player analysis articles on two of the best up-and-coming holding midfielders in the world today: Aleksandar Pavlović at Bayern Munich and Chema Andrés at VfB Stuttgart. Aged 21 and 20 years old, respectively, the pair of midfielders...
AS Roma have been missing a reliable striker, other than Evan Ferguson, to provide a heavier presence in the box and help finish the team’s chances with consistent efficiency. It will be very important for the Giallorossi to sign a striker during this transfer window in order to continue competing for the top...
Japan’s rise as a developer of technical midfielders has felt inexorable for a decade, and the J.League pipeline keeps delivering. The case studies are already familiar. Kaoru Mitoma left Kawasaki Frontale for Brighton, and Takefusa Kubo has played for two of the biggest clubs in Spain. Ao Tanaka, 27, belongs in...
Last week, Total Football Analysis published an article on Chema Andrés at VfB Stuttgart, who has generated plenty of well-deserved hype around himself in the 2025/2026 season so far. Andrés isn’t the only young holding midfielder in the Bundesliga with a bit of buzz around himself at the moment. Another...
Werder Bremen were rather busy this summer, overturning their entire identity and style of play. Long-time head coach Ole Werner and the club decided to part ways, which led to the club hiring Horst Steffen as their new head coach. This also meant that the team's entire style of play...
Azzedine Ounahi’s arrival at Girona ahead of the 2025/2026 La Liga season was not just another midfield signing; it represented a response to a clear structural challenge. However, the subsequent action is not exploited effectively. He then continues his press toward the ball-side flank, helping Girona regain possession. Girona’s tactics...
Reece James was getting shouts of being the best right-back in the world a few years ago, but numerous hamstring injuries slowed his consistent game time. Now that he is getting back to speed and playing 26 games this season and 1739 minutes so far, some speculate he is getting...
Niclas Füllkrug has recently been linked with teams like AC Milan, Werder Bremen, Augsburg, and Wolfsburg, as the German striker's talent makes him sought after by numerous clubs despite being 32 years old. Milan, in particular, is rumoured to have already started talks with West Ham United over a loan...
For some time now, the name Patricio Pacífico has been circulating by word of mouth among Uruguayan football fans. Developed at Defensor Sporting, the left-footed centre-back had previously stood out in Uruguay’s youth national teams as one of the most promising players of the 2006 generation. Identified as part of...
Chelsea are having an up-and-down season, currently sitting in fourth place and eight points behind league leaders Arsenal. The Blues have dealt with injuries and bad results, but one of the main bright spots this season has been Enzo Fernández. With Cole Palmer missing most of the season due to...
Modern central defending has changed. Centre-backs still must defend their box, win duels, and clear danger. But most teams nowadays ask them to start the attack in the first phase, to vary their passing, to be comfortable under pressure, and to solve problems with the ball as much as without...
Chema Andrés (190cm/6’3”, 77kg/169lbs) joined VfB Stuttgart from Real Madrid this past summer for a transfer fee of just €3m. Andrés was a Real Madrid academy product, having joined Los Blancos' youth setup from Levante in 2018. Like many who came through the Galacticos academy before him, such as Juan...
Jay Stansfield is a player who’s had real pressure on his shoulders from a young age and learned quickly how to deal with it. Growing up around senior football through his father, the late Adam Stansfield, meant he was exposed to the realities of the game early, not just the academy...
Lennart Karl is a standout player for Bayern Munich in the 2025/2026 season, having been promoted from the Bayern Munich U19 team last year. The 17-year-old midfielder has played 22 games and scored 8 goals, becoming one of Bayern's best players this season, with a Transfermarkt market value of €20m. He primarily plays...
Hugo Duro has cemented his role as a key figure in Valencia CF's current era under the guidance of coach Carlos Corberán. Following several seasons with inconsistent performances, Duro has become the team's reliable offensive leader in the 2025/2026 season. With five goals in 15 La Liga matches, he is...
When Villarreal acquired Alberto Moleiro from UD Las Palmas, they didn't expect immediate results. Yet, the 22-year-old has shattered those expectations, establishing himself as a vital part of the team's attack under coach Marcelino. Having already scored six goals and provided two assists in 15 La Liga appearances this season,...
