Tanner Tessmann is a very interesting profile, a right-footed 6/8, and possibly the best midfielder from the United States.
He joined Olympique Lyon from Venezia on August 24, 2024, spending the past season in France.
Before he moved to Venezia, he was still playing in the MLS with FC Dallas, and its no surprise that a team like Lyon picked him up.
Other top teams like Inter Milan and Bayern Munich were monitoring the player when he was at Venezia.
Now, if any team wants him, they will have to pay an expensive fee.
The 23-year-old, who stands at 188cm and has a current market value of €6m, has the potential to start for a UEFA Champions League-level team.
In this player analysis, we will examine his role at Olympique Lyon, his potential as a player, what clubs he can best fit and elevate his career, and whether hes the right man to captain the USMNT in the future.
Who Is Tanner Tessmann?
Tessmann is a right-footed 6/8—strong, fast, and with a wide passing range.
Hes a creative mind moving into the attacking phase of the field and a physical presence in the defensive half.
His intelligence and ability as a technician in the 6 role is outstanding.
Similarly to Lucas Bartlet, Tessmann style of play doesn’t shy away from playing long passes over the opponents defensive line or switching the ball across play.
He is also comfortable with both feet in possession.
A very intelligent player, he doesn’t rush any passes and takes his time to pick the perfect pass.
He also beats the press with his physical presence, which is similar to how Paul Pogba played during his first stint at Juventus.
One thing that worries me about his defensive abilities is his awareness of his surroundings during the transition.
His defending of space can at times be inconsistent, but he is more defensively aware when the game is at a settled state.
I would say he’s quite poor in the air when it comes to his duels.
A player with his build and profile should show more physical presence in the air, which he lacks.
Tessmann is still a strong presence on the floor, helping the defensive line and midfield.
He has played 35 matches this season but only 1840 minutes, which is roughly 50 minutes a match.
More consistent playing time would help his statistical data, like the radar map below.
Tanner Tessmann Radar Map
Tanner Tessmann’s stats profile is intriguing.
He ranks in the 74th percentile for touches in the opponent’s box and in the 83rd percentile for defensive duels won, suggesting a two-way profile.
Despite being labell




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