Players like Pieter Gerkens
CM/CDM/CAMCercle Brugge · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitPieter Gerkens's profile ↗
The players most similar to Pieter Gerkens are Vito van Crooij, Thijs Oosting, Victor Jensen. Doppel rates Vito van Crooij (NEC Nijmegen) a 82/100 overall match — 92/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Vito van Crooij scores 82/100 at about €900k. Data as of September 2026.
Building your XI? Put Pieter Gerkens in a lineup and get the whole team rated on real data.Build a lineup →About Pieter Gerkens
Pieter Gerkens is a gritty defensive midfielder, excelling in breaking up play and winning possession in the attacking third, placing him in the top 14% of his peers. His strong aerial presence and ability to clear danger demonstrate his effectiveness in physical duels, contributing to his overall reliability on the pitch. With only three games missed in the last three seasons, Gerkens is a durable asset, although his passing metrics suggest he may not be the most progressive ball distributor.
Strengths: Possession won in att. third, Clearances, Aerial duels won. Availability: 3 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to Pieter Gerkens
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vito van Crooijsimilar↗ | NEC Nijmegen | 30 | €900k | 92 | 82 |
| 2 | Thijs Oostingsimilar↗ | PEC Zwolle | 26 | €900k | 91 | 85 |
| 3 | Victor Jensensimilar↗ | FC Utrecht | 26 | €2.3m | 90 | 85 |
| 4 | Guus Tilsimilar↗ | PSV Eindhoven | 29 | €16m | 89 | 82 |
| 5 | Gianluca Busiosimilar↗ | Venezia | 24 | €7.3m | 89 | 82 |
| 6 | Liam Cullensimilar↗ | Swansea City | 27 | €3.1m | 88 | 81 |
| 7 | Carlo Holsesimilar↗ | Samsunspor | 27 | €6.5m | 88 | 81 |
| 8 | Dany Motasimilar↗ | Monza | 28 | €3.1m | 88 | 81 |
| 9 | Arno Verschuerensimilar↗ | Sparta Rotterdam | 29 | €700k | 88 | 81 |
| 10 | Callum O'Haresimilar↗ | Sheffield United | 28 | €5.4m | 88 | 81 |
| 11 | Odysseus Velanassimilar↗ | PEC Zwolle | 28 | €600k | 87 | 82 |
| 12 | Robin van Cruijsensimilar↗ | FC Volendam | 20 | €1.1m | 87 | 81 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match Pieter Gerkens
≈ 100% Pieter Gerkens · strong: Finishing (npG − npxG, Non-penalty goals · medium reliability
Strengths: Finishing (npG − npxG /90), Non-penalty goals /90, Sofascore rating
≈ 100% Pieter Gerkens · strong: Clearances, xG + xA · low reliability
Strengths: Clearances /90, xG + xA /90, Non-penalty goals /90
≈ 100% Pieter Gerkens · strong: Non-penalty goals, Shots · medium reliability
Strengths: Non-penalty goals /90, Shots /90, xG + xA /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Pieter Gerkens?
By Doppel's fit score, Vito van Crooij (NEC Nijmegen) is the closest profile to Pieter Gerkens, with a 82/100 overall match. Thijs Oosting and Victor Jensen are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Pieter Gerkens?
Yes. Vito van Crooij (NEC Nijmegen) plays a similar central midfielder role and rates 82/100 at roughly €900k.
How does Doppel find players similar to Pieter Gerkens?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from Pieter Gerkens'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.
Want the full, budget-aware shortlist with heatmaps and your own filters?
Run your own search on Doppel →