José Fonte vs Nuno Santos
Per-90 stats comparison · Rising Transfers DNA Analysis · 2025/26 season
Data Verdict
Both players are valued similarly (€5.6M vs €5.0M). José Fonte leads in goals / 90 and clearances / 90. Nuno Santos is stronger in interceptions / 90 and pass accuracy %. The two players are closely matched across most statistical dimensions.
Based on per-90 statistics · How we compare players →
Playing Style Profiles
Fonte is what happens when a veteran defender distils decades of experience into pure positional intelligence—still reading the game better than men half his age in Liga Portugal. His duel win rate sits in the top 5% of league defenders, a figure that speaks to anticipation rather than athleticism; he's not beating opponents through pace, he's simply arriving first.
Santos is the rare defender who creates more danger than most attackers in Liga Portugal—his 3.07 key passes per 90 and 2.05 shots per 90 both land in the top 5% of all defenders in the division, numbers that belong on a winger's profile, not a backline one. His 100% duel win rate sounds like a small-sample anomaly—and with only 352 minutes, it partly is—but his 90.9% pass accuracy suggests genuine technical quality rather than a player simply avoiding contact.
Per-90 Statistics Comparison
| Metric | José Fonte | Nuno Santos | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals / 90 | 0.06 | 0.00 | José |
| Tackles won / 90 | 0.32 | — | — |
| Interceptions / 90 | 0.88 | 1.02 | Nuno |
| Clearances / 90 | 6.88 | 0.77 | José |
| Press intensity / 90 | 1.23 | 0.36 | José |
| Pass accuracy % | 88.90 | 90.90 | Nuno |
All statistics per 90 minutes · 2025/26 season · FULL quality DNA data only
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the better player — José Fonte or Nuno Santos?
Both players are valued similarly (€5.6M vs €5.0M). José Fonte leads in goals / 90 and clearances / 90. Nuno Santos is stronger in interceptions / 90 and pass accuracy %. The two players are closely matched across most statistical dimensions.
How is this comparison calculated?
Rising Transfers compares players using per-90 statistics normalised for playing time, combined with DNA playing style vectors built from 47 performance dimensions. This ensures fair comparison regardless of team, league, or playing time. Learn more about our comparison methodology →
What are their market values?
José Fonte has a market value of €5.6M, while Nuno Santos is valued at €5.0M.