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 Matías Vecino, Andrey Santos, Casemiro. Doppel rates Matías Vecino (Lazio) a 79/100 overall match — 86/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Matías Vecino scores 79/100 at about €1.1m. Data as of July 2026.
12 players most similar to João Palhinha
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matías Vecinosimilar↗ | Lazio | 35 | €1.1m | 86 | 79 |
| 2 | Andrey Santossimilar↗ | RC Strasbourg | 22 | €39m | 91 | 78 |
| 3 | Casemirosimilar↗ | Manchester United | 34 | €5.5m | 87 | 78 |
| 4 | Abdoulaye Tourésimilar↗ | Le Havre | 32 | €2.4m | 82 | 78 |
| 5 | Tomáš Součeksimilar↗ | West Ham United | 31 | €9.7m | 86 | 77 |
| 6 | Samú Costasimilar↗ | Mallorca | 26 | €15m | 93 | 77 |
| 7 | Johan Manzambisimilar↗ | SC Freiburg | 21 | €54m | 81 | 77 |
| 8 | Eric Ebimbesimilar↗ | Eintracht Frankfurt | 26 | €6.5m | 76 | 76 |
| 9 | Neil El Aynaouisimilar↗ | RC Lens | 25 | €22m | 83 | 76 |
| 10 | Yangel Herrerasimilar↗ | Girona FC | 28 | €5.6m | 89 | 76 |
| 11 | Jens Castropsimilar↗ | Borussia M'gladbach | 23 | €9.3m | 80 | 76 |
| 12 | Christian Nørgaardsimilar↗ | Brentford | 32 | €4.8m | 89 | 76 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · data: Sofascore, last 3 seasons
Why these players match João Palhinha
≈ 100% João Palhinha · strong: Non-penalty goals, Finishing (npG − npxG · medium reliability
Strengths: Non-penalty goals /90, Finishing (npG − npxG /90), Shots /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: Non-penalty goals, Finishing (npG − npxG · low reliability
Strengths: Non-penalty goals /90, Finishing (npG − npxG /90), Tackles + interceptions /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for João Palhinha?
By Doppel's fit score, Matías Vecino (Lazio) is the closest profile to João Palhinha, with a 79/100 overall match. Andrey Santos and Casemiro are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to João Palhinha?
Yes. Matías Vecino (Lazio) plays a similar central midfielder role and rates 79/100 at roughly €1.1m.
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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