Who should replace Saúl Ñíguez?
CM/CDMSevilla · 2024/25 · ranked by tactical + market fitSaúl Ñíguez's profile ↗
If a club needs to replace Saúl Ñíguez, the best-fitting central midfielders are Philip Billing, Mattias Svanberg, Diego Gómez. Philip Billing (Bournemouth) matches the role at 94/100 on tactical profile (82/100 overall). A cheaper option: Óscar Rodríguez at about €1.6m. Data as of July 2026.
Best replacements for Saúl Ñíguez
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philip Billingsimilar↗ | Bournemouth | 30 | €6.2m | 94 | 82 |
| 2 | Mattias Svanbergsimilar↗ | VfL Wolfsburg | 27 | €8.3m | 92 | 83 |
| 3 | Diego Gómezsimilar↗ | Brighton & Hove Albion | 23 | €27m | 92 | 83 |
| 4 | Rocco Reitzsimilar↗ | Borussia M'gladbach | 24 | €22m | 92 | 81 |
| 5 | Óscar Rodríguezsimilar↗ | Leganés | 28 | €1.6m | 90 | 79 |
| 6 | Nico O'Reillysimilar↗ | Manchester City | 21 | €76m | 90 | 81 |
| 7 | Santi Comesañasimilar↗ | Villarreal | 30 | €8.4m | 90 | 79 |
| 8 | Joelintonsimilar↗ | Newcastle United | 30 | €27m | 89 | 77 |
| 9 | Kristian Thorstvedtsimilar↗ | Sassuolo | 27 | €12m | 89 | 82 |
| 10 | Emirhan İlkhansimilar↗ | Torino | 22 | €6.3m | 89 | 81 |
| 11 | Hernanisimilar↗ | Parma | 32 | €1.3m | 89 | 77 |
| 12 | Alex Scottsimilar↗ | Bournemouth | 23 | €53m | 89 | 78 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · data: Sofascore, last 3 seasons
Why these players match Saúl Ñíguez
≈ 100% Saúl Ñíguez · strong: Big chances created, Aerial duels won · medium reliability
Strengths: Big chances created /90, Aerial duels won /90, Shots /90
≈ 100% Saúl Ñíguez · strong: Shots, Aerial duels won % · medium reliability
Strengths: Shots /90, Aerial duels won %
≈ 100% Saúl Ñíguez · strong: Aerial duels won, Duels won · medium reliability
Strengths: Aerial duels won /90, Duels won /90, Possession won in att. third /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Saúl Ñíguez?
By Doppel's tactical-fit score, Philip Billing (Bournemouth) does the closest job to Saúl Ñíguez, at 94/100 on profile. Mattias Svanberg and Diego Gómez follow.
Is there a cheaper player who can replace Saúl Ñíguez?
Yes — Óscar Rodríguez (Leganés) plays a similar central midfielder role at roughly €1.6m, a 79/100 match.
How does Doppel find replacements for Saúl Ñíguez?
Doppel learns Saúl Ñíguez's role profile from his 2024/25 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 →