Who should replace Granit Xhaka?
CM/CDMSunderland · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitGranit Xhaka's profile ↗
If a club needs to replace Granit Xhaka, the best-fitting central midfielders are Reece James, James Garner, Wouter Burger. Reece James (Chelsea) matches the role at 93/100 on tactical profile (75/100 overall). A cheaper option: Joan Jordán at about €1.0m. Data as of July 2026.
Best replacements for Granit Xhaka
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reece Jamessimilar↗ | Chelsea | 27 | €63m | 93 | 75 |
| 2 | James Garnersimilar↗ | Everton | 25 | €48m | 91 | 77 |
| 3 | Wouter Burgersimilar↗ | TSG Hoffenheim | 25 | €21m | 89 | 81 |
| 4 | Bryan Cristantesimilar↗ | AS Roma | 31 | €7.7m | 89 | 75 |
| 5 | Pepelusimilar↗ | Valencia | 28 | €7.3m | 88 | 82 |
| 6 | Édersonsimilar↗ | Atalanta | 27 | €43m | 88 | 79 |
| 7 | Joan Jordánsimilar↗ | Deportivo Alavés | 32 | €1.0m | 88 | 83 |
| 8 | Lewis Mileysimilar↗ | Newcastle United | 20 | €27m | 88 | 77 |
| 9 | Angelo Stillersimilar↗ | VfB Stuttgart | 25 | €46m | 87 | 76 |
| 10 | Luis Millasimilar↗ | Getafe | 32 | €3.2m | 87 | 74 |
| 11 | Youri Tielemanssimilar↗ | Aston Villa | 29 | €33m | 87 | 76 |
| 12 | Dani Parejosimilar↗ | Villarreal | 37 | €1.0m | 87 | 77 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · data: Sofascore, last 3 seasons
Why these players match Granit Xhaka
≈ 100% Granit Xhaka · strong: Aerial duels won %, Touches · medium reliability
Strengths: Aerial duels won %, Touches /90, Accurate crosses /90
≈ 100% Granit Xhaka · strong: Tackles + interceptions, Accurate crosses · low reliability
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions /90, Accurate crosses /90, Aerial duels won %
≈ 100% Granit Xhaka · strong: Aerial duels won, Clearances · low reliability
Strengths: Aerial duels won /90, Clearances /90, Key passes /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Granit Xhaka?
By Doppel's tactical-fit score, Reece James (Chelsea) does the closest job to Granit Xhaka, at 93/100 on profile. James Garner and Wouter Burger follow.
Is there a cheaper player who can replace Granit Xhaka?
Yes — Joan Jordán (Deportivo Alavés) plays a similar central midfielder role at roughly €1.0m, a 83/100 match.
How does Doppel find replacements for Granit Xhaka?
Doppel learns Granit Xhaka's role profile from his 2025/26 season and ranks central midfielders across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they do the same job, adjusted for league strength.
Want the full, budget-aware shortlist with heatmaps and your own filters?
Run your own search on Doppel →