Players like Mertcan Ayhan
CBFC Schalke 04 · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitMertcan Ayhan's profile ↗
The players most similar to Mertcan Ayhan are Nicolas Cozza, Zak Sturge, Lukas Willen. Doppel rates Nicolas Cozza (Nantes) a 86/100 overall match — 95/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Marvin Peersman scores 85/100 at about €200k. Data as of July 2026.
About Mertcan Ayhan
Mertcan Ayhan is an aggressive, ball-playing centre-back known for his ability to win possession in the attacking third, ranking in the top 12% among his peers. At just 20, he's shown promise with successful dribbles and accurate crosses, demonstrating a capacity to contribute to build-up play. While his aerial duels need improvement, his reliability in availability makes him a dependable option for Schalke 04 as he continues to develop his game.
Strengths: Possession won in att. third, Successful dribbles, Accurate crosses. Availability: 13 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to Mertcan Ayhan
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Cozzasimilar↗ | Nantes | 27 | €2.7m | 95 | 86 |
| 2 | Zak Sturgesimilar↗ | Millwall | 22 | €3.9m | 94 | 85 |
| 3 | Lukas Willensimilar↗ | SV Zulte Waregem | 23 | €600k | 93 | 83 |
| 4 | Kelvin Amiansimilar↗ | Nantes | 28 | €2.1m | 93 | 84 |
| 5 | Rhys Norrington-Daviessimilar↗ | Queens Park Rangers | 27 | €2.3m | 92 | 85 |
| 6 | Olivier Aertssensimilar↗ | PEC Zwolle | 22 | €600k | 91 | 86 |
| 7 | Andreas Ndojsimilar↗ | Rio Ave | 23 | €5.4m | 91 | 84 |
| 8 | Marvin Peersmansimilar↗ | FC Groningen | 35 | €200k | 91 | 85 |
| 9 | Adam Obertsimilar↗ | Cagliari | 24 | €6.4m | 91 | 85 |
| 10 | Ameen Al-Dakhilsimilar↗ | Burnley | 24 | €3.1m | 91 | 85 |
| 11 | Hamza El Kaouakibisimilar↗ | Südtirol | 28 | €600k | 90 | 86 |
| 12 | Ahmetcan Kaplansimilar↗ | NEC Nijmegen | 23 | €6.5m | 90 | 83 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · data: Sofascore, last 3 seasons
Why these players match Mertcan Ayhan
≈ 100% Mertcan Ayhan · strong: Possession won in att. third, Accurate crosses · low reliability
Strengths: Possession won in att. third /90, Accurate crosses /90
≈ 100% Mertcan Ayhan · strong: Successful dribbles, Accurate crosses · low reliability
Strengths: Successful dribbles /90, Accurate crosses /90
≈ 100% Mertcan Ayhan · strong: Key passes, Possession won in att. third · medium reliability
Strengths: Key passes /90, Possession won in att. third /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Mertcan Ayhan?
By Doppel's fit score, Nicolas Cozza (Nantes) is the closest profile to Mertcan Ayhan, with a 86/100 overall match. Zak Sturge and Lukas Willen are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Mertcan Ayhan?
Yes. Marvin Peersman (FC Groningen) plays a similar centre back role and rates 85/100 at roughly €200k.
How does Doppel find players similar to Mertcan Ayhan?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from Mertcan Ayhan's 2025/26 season, then ranks centre backs across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they match, adjusting for league strength and market value.
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