Players like João Palhinha
CM/CDMTottenham Hotspur · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitJoão Palhinha's profile ↗
The players most similar to João Palhinha are Samú Costa, Andrey Santos, Enric Llansana. Doppel rates Samú Costa (Mallorca) a 81/100 overall match — 95/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Giulio Maggiore scores 79/100 at about €500k. Data as of September 2026.
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João Palhinha is a tenacious defensive midfielder, excelling in tackles and interceptions, making him a formidable presence in the heart of the pitch. With a Sofascore rating in the top 16% of his peers, he consistently dominates duels and showcases impressive distribution with accurate long balls. While he may not be a creative playmaker, his durability is a concern, having missed a significant number of games in recent seasons. Nonetheless, his ability to shield the defense and reclaim possession makes him an invaluable asset for Tottenham.
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions, Duels won, Touches. Availability: 21 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to João Palhinha
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samú Costasimilar↗ | Mallorca | 26 | €15m | 95 | 81 |
| 2 | Andrey Santossimilar↗ | RC Strasbourg | 22 | €39m | 92 | 81 |
| 3 | Enric Llansanasimilar↗ | Go Ahead Eagles | 25 | €2.1m | 91 | 81 |
| 4 | Pape Gueyesimilar↗ | Villarreal | 27 | €39m | 91 | 79 |
| 5 | Giulio Maggioresimilar↗ | Salernitana | 28 | €500k | 91 | 79 |
| 6 | Melle Meulensteensimilar↗ | Go Ahead Eagles | 27 | €2.4m | 91 | 80 |
| 7 | Yangel Herrerasimilar↗ | Girona FC | 28 | €5.6m | 91 | 80 |
| 8 | Darko Nejašmićsimilar↗ | NEC Nijmegen | 27 | €4.1m | 90 | 79 |
| 9 | Matías Vecinosimilar↗ | Lazio | 35 | €1.1m | 90 | 82 |
| 10 | Casemirosimilar↗ | Manchester United | 34 | €5.5m | 89 | 80 |
| 11 | Tomáš Součeksimilar↗ | West Ham United | 31 | €9.7m | 88 | 80 |
| 12 | Dirk Wanner Propersimilar↗ | NEC Nijmegen | 24 | €1.4m | 88 | 79 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match João Palhinha
≈ 100% João Palhinha · strong: Duels won, Aerial duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Duels won /90, Aerial duels won /90, Clearances /90
≈ 100% João Palhinha · strong: Finishing (npG − npxG, Sofascore rating · low reliability
Strengths: Finishing (npG − npxG /90), Sofascore rating, Non-penalty goals /90
≈ 100% João Palhinha · strong: Aerial duels won, Duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Aerial duels won /90, Duels won /90, Clearances /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for João Palhinha?
By Doppel's fit score, Samú Costa (Mallorca) is the closest profile to João Palhinha, with a 81/100 overall match. Andrey Santos and Enric Llansana are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to João Palhinha?
Yes. Giulio Maggiore (Salernitana) plays a similar central midfielder role and rates 79/100 at roughly €500k.
How does Doppel find players similar to João Palhinha?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from João Palhinha'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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