⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Sunderland· Latest season · Premier League · PARTIAL

Best Alternatives to Dan Ballard

Centre BackNorthern Ireland27y€20.0MFull profile →

Physical StopperAerialSmall Sample

1.38Tkl/90

0.67KP/90

Based on 450 min · Latest season · Premier League · PARTIAL

Ranked by AI DNA similarity — playing style, pressing, and tactical fit. Below: the closest replacements with per-90 stats and form.

DNA matchPrioritizes Premier League & top-tier peers

Top 3 alternatives to Dan Ballard

Kristoffer Ajer99% match
Brentford · Premier League · €18.0M
Jair Cunha 98% match
Nottingham Forest · Premier League · €12.0M
Ibrahima Konaté80% match
Real Madrid · Premier League · €50.0M

Ranked by RT Player DNA + league/value credibility. Scroll for full list, per-90 stats, and share cards.

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Playing Style Analysis

Physical StopperAerialSmall Sample

A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as active in the tackle (2.0 tackles/90), commanding in the air (6.2 clearances/90), wins the physical battle (56% duel success) and strong in aerial duels (5.2 aerials won/90). Note: this profile is based on 450 minutes of playing time this season. The three closest DNA matches to Dan Ballard:

Kristoffer Ajer(99% match) — A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (7.4 clearances/90), wins the physical battle (62% duel success) and dominant in the air (4.0 aerials won/90, 61%).
Jair Cunha (98% match) — A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as comfortable with both feet, commanding in the air (5.4 clearances/90) and wins the physical battle (65% duel success).
Ibrahima Konaté(80% match) — Ibrahima Konaté is a Ball-Playing CB. Progressive defender comfortable on the ball.

Similarity uses per-90 performance across playing-style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →

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Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

Kristoffer Ajer

Brentford · Premier League

Norway28yContract 2028

Tkl/901.84

KP/900.25

Physical StopperAerialOut of form ↓

99% match

€18.0M

Compare Ballard vs Ajer →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Dan Ballard?▼

The top alternatives to Dan Ballard based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Kristoffer Ajer, Jair Cunha , Ibrahima Konaté, Luca Marianucci, William Saliba. These players were matched using Rising Transfers' 768-dimension DNA model across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit — not just position or market value.

Which players are similar to Dan Ballard in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to Dan Ballard in 2026 include Kristoffer Ajer (€18.0M), Jair Cunha (€12.0M), Ibrahima Konaté (€50.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does Dan Ballard play and who plays similarly?▼

Dan Ballard plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Kristoffer Ajer (Norway, €18.0M); Jair Cunha (Brazil, €12.0M); Ibrahima Konaté (France, €50.0M); Luca Marianucci (Italy, €7.5M).

How does Rising Transfers find similar players?▼

Rising Transfers uses a proprietary 768-dimension Player DNA model trained on 3.2 million match events. Each player is represented as a vector across 35+ per-90 metrics including pressing intensity, passing footprint, dribbling profile, and defensive contribution. Similarity is measured using cosine distance — the same technique used in state-of-the-art AI systems — making it the most precise player comparison tool available publicly.

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