Players like Julian Niehues
CM/CDM1. FC Kaiserslautern · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitJulian Niehues's profile ↗
The players most similar to Julian Niehues are Samú Costa, Giulio Maggiore, Melle Meulensteen. Doppel rates Samú Costa (Mallorca) a 79/100 overall match — 92/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Giulio Maggiore scores 79/100 at about €500k. Data as of September 2026.
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Julian Niehues is a robust defensive midfielder known for his aerial prowess and defensive contributions. With a strong ability to win headers and clear the ball effectively, he excels in disrupting opposition attacks, though his passing metrics suggest he’s more of a destroyer than a playmaker. Despite his solid aerial statistics, his injury history raises concerns about his availability, which could limit his impact as a reliable presence in midfield.
Strengths: Aerial duels won %, Aerial duels won, Clearances. Availability: 42 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to Julian Niehues
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samú Costasimilar↗ | Mallorca | 26 | €15m | 92 | 79 |
| 2 | Giulio Maggioresimilar↗ | Salernitana | 28 | €500k | 92 | 79 |
| 3 | Melle Meulensteensimilar↗ | Go Ahead Eagles | 27 | €2.4m | 90 | 80 |
| 4 | Dirk Wanner Propersimilar↗ | NEC Nijmegen | 24 | €1.4m | 89 | 80 |
| 5 | Enric Llansanasimilar↗ | Go Ahead Eagles | 25 | €2.1m | 89 | 80 |
| 6 | Darko Nejašmićsimilar↗ | NEC Nijmegen | 27 | €4.1m | 89 | 79 |
| 7 | Tomáš Součeksimilar↗ | West Ham United | 31 | €9.7m | 89 | 81 |
| 8 | Cesare Casadeisimilar↗ | Torino | 23 | €16m | 88 | 81 |
| 9 | Jan Schöppnersimilar↗ | 1. FC Heidenheim | 27 | €3.2m | 88 | 80 |
| 10 | Martin Palumbosimilar↗ | US Avellino 1912 | 24 | €1.6m | 88 | 79 |
| 11 | Jens Stagesimilar↗ | SV Werder Bremen | 30 | €14m | 87 | 80 |
| 12 | Rafael Bauzàsimilar↗ | Mirandés | 21 | €1.1m | 87 | 79 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match Julian Niehues
≈ 100% Julian Niehues · strong: Duels won, Aerial duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Duels won /90, Aerial duels won /90, Clearances /90
≈ 100% Julian Niehues · strong: Finishing (npG − npxG, Non-penalty goals · medium reliability
Strengths: Finishing (npG − npxG /90), Non-penalty goals /90, Tackles + interceptions /90
≈ 100% Julian Niehues · strong: Clearances, Aerial duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Clearances /90, Aerial duels won /90, Sofascore rating
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Julian Niehues?
By Doppel's fit score, Samú Costa (Mallorca) is the closest profile to Julian Niehues, with a 79/100 overall match. Giulio Maggiore and Melle Meulensteen are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Julian Niehues?
Yes. Giulio Maggiore (Salernitana) plays a similar central midfielder role and rates 79/100 at roughly €500k.
How does Doppel find players similar to Julian Niehues?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from Julian Niehues'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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