Players like James Sands
CM/CDMFC St. Pauli · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitJames Sands's profile ↗
The players most similar to James Sands are Carlos Benavídez, Stanko Jurić, Philipp Sander. Doppel rates Carlos Benavídez (Deportivo Alavés) a 77/100 overall match — 94/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Giulio Maggiore scores 78/100 at about €500k. Data as of September 2026.
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James Sands is a tenacious defensive midfielder, excelling in breaking up play and dominating aerial duels—ranking in the top 2% for aerial duels won. Despite his current Sofascore rating placing him in the bottom 26% of his peers, his ability to win tackles and interceptions consistently makes him a valuable asset in midfield battles. However, his injury history has raised concerns, with significant time missed over the past three seasons.
Strengths: Aerial duels won, Duels won, Tackles + interceptions. Availability: 72 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to James Sands
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Benavídezsimilar↗ | Deportivo Alavés | 28 | €1.0m | 94 | 77 |
| 2 | Stanko Jurićsimilar↗ | Real Valladolid | 30 | €1.1m | 92 | 79 |
| 3 | Philipp Sandersimilar↗ | Borussia M'gladbach | 28 | €4.2m | 91 | 78 |
| 4 | Chema Andréssimilar↗ | VfB Stuttgart | 21 | €19m | 91 | 77 |
| 5 | Terry Devlinsimilar↗ | Portsmouth | 23 | €3.9m | 90 | 77 |
| 6 | Enric Llansanasimilar↗ | Go Ahead Eagles | 25 | €2.1m | 90 | 80 |
| 7 | Giulio Maggioresimilar↗ | Salernitana | 28 | €500k | 89 | 78 |
| 8 | Mikel Vesgasimilar↗ | Athletic Club | 33 | €1.2m | 89 | 80 |
| 9 | Tomáš Součeksimilar↗ | West Ham United | 31 | €9.7m | 89 | 80 |
| 10 | Adam Carlénsimilar↗ | IFK Göteborg | 26 | €400k | 88 | 77 |
| 11 | Peer Koopmeinerssimilar↗ | AZ Alkmaar | 26 | €13m | 87 | 77 |
| 12 | José Gragerasimilar↗ | Espanyol | 26 | €1.3m | 87 | 77 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match James Sands
≈ 100% James Sands · strong: Tackles + interceptions, Duels won · medium reliability
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions /90, Duels won /90, Finishing (npG − npxG /90)
≈ 100% James Sands · strong: Aerial duels won, Tackles + interceptions · low reliability
Strengths: Aerial duels won /90, Tackles + interceptions /90, Aerial duels won %
≈ 100% James Sands · strong: Clearances, Tackles + interceptions · low reliability
Strengths: Clearances /90, Tackles + interceptions /90, Aerial duels won /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for James Sands?
By Doppel's fit score, Carlos Benavídez (Deportivo Alavés) is the closest profile to James Sands, with a 77/100 overall match. Stanko Jurić and Philipp Sander are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to James Sands?
Yes. Giulio Maggiore (Salernitana) plays a similar central midfielder role and rates 78/100 at roughly €500k.
How does Doppel find players similar to James Sands?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from James Sands's 2025/26 season, then ranks central midfielders across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they match, adjusting for league strength and market value.
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