Players like James Tarkowski
CBEverton · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitJames Tarkowski's profile ↗
The players most similar to James Tarkowski are Jan Paul van Hecke, Ross Sykes, Marc Guéhi. Doppel rates Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham Hotspur) a 85/100 overall match — 95/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw scores 86/100 at about €1.0m. Data as of October 2026.
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James Tarkowski is a commanding ball-playing centre-back, excelling in defensive duels and aerial challenges, making him a stalwart in the backline. With a Sofascore rating in the top 1% of his positional peers, he demonstrates elite defensive quality and impressive distribution, showcasing his ability to launch attacks with accurate long balls. His durability is a significant asset, having missed only six games over the last three seasons, further solidifying his reputation as a reliable defensive anchor.
Strengths: Sofascore rating, Duels won, Aerial duels won. Availability: 6 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to James Tarkowski
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan Paul van Heckesimilar↗ | Tottenham Hotspur | 26 | €65m | 95 | 85 |
| 2 | Ross Sykessimilar↗ | Royale Union Saint-Gilloise | 27 | €4.9m | 94 | 89 |
| 3 | Marc Guéhisimilar↗ | Manchester City | 26 | €66m | 94 | 85 |
| 4 | Leopold Querfeldsimilar↗ | 1. FC Union Berlin | 23 | €19m | 94 | 89 |
| 5 | Dean Huijsensimilar↗ | Real Madrid | 21 | €66m | 94 | 85 |
| 6 | Jimmy Dunnesimilar↗ | Queens Park Rangers | 29 | €4.8m | 93 | 85 |
| 7 | Jeffrey Gouweleeuwsimilar↗ | FC Augsburg | 35 | €1.0m | 93 | 86 |
| 8 | Jacobo Ramónsimilar↗ | Como | 21 | €32m | 93 | 87 |
| 9 | Alberto Dossenasimilar↗ | Cagliari | 28 | €5.6m | 92 | 84 |
| 10 | Leo Østigårdsimilar↗ | Genoa | 27 | €14m | 92 | 84 |
| 11 | Tristan Cramasimilar↗ | Millwall | 25 | €12m | 92 | 87 |
| 12 | Piero Hincapiésimilar↗ | Arsenal | 24 | €46m | 92 | 85 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match James Tarkowski
≈ 100% James Tarkowski · strong: Touches, Duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Touches /90, Duels won /90, Sofascore rating
≈ 100% James Tarkowski · strong: Shots, Sofascore rating · low reliability
Strengths: Shots /90, Sofascore rating, Aerial duels won %
≈ 100% James Tarkowski · strong: xG + xA, Accurate final-third passes · low reliability
Strengths: xG + xA /90, Accurate final-third passes /90, Sofascore rating
FAQ
Who is the closest look-alike to James Tarkowski?
Statistically, Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham Hotspur) is the closest look-alike to James Tarkowski — a 85/100 profile match (95/100 on playing style). Here "look-alike" means the most similar playing style and output, not appearance.
Who is the best replacement for James Tarkowski?
By Doppel's fit score, Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham Hotspur) is the closest profile to James Tarkowski, with a 85/100 overall match. Ross Sykes and Marc Guéhi are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to James Tarkowski?
Yes. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (FC Augsburg) plays a similar centre back role and rates 86/100 at roughly €1.0m.
How does Doppel find players similar to James Tarkowski?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from James Tarkowski'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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