AI DNA Similarity
Best Alternatives to Donyell Malen
Players most similar to Donyell Malen (Attacker, €25.0M) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Top 3 Alternatives to Donyell Malen
- 1.Karim Adeyemi86% DNA match·Borussia Dortmund€60.0M
- 2.Gianluca Scamacca85% DNA match·Atalanta€25.0M
- 3.Benjamin Sesko85% DNA match·Manchester United€65.0M
Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
RT
Intelligence Verdict
GoalsTop 2%
???Bottom 0%
“A Poacher....”
See Full Verdict + Share Card →Playing Style Analysis
PoacherProlificSmall Sample
A Poacher. Statistically, he stands out as a constant goal threat (3.8 shots/90), a proven goalscorer (0.56 goals/90) and top 10% scorer in the league. However, he loses possession under pressure (1.8 dispossessed/90). The three most similar players to Donyell Malen by playing style are:
- Karim Adeyemi(86% match) — A Inside Forward. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, a capable chance creator (1.0 key passes/90), a proven goalscorer (0.55 goals/90), a reliable supplier (0.18 assists/90), a dynamic dribbler (2.1/90), draws fouls effectively (2.1/90) and top 20% scorer in the league.
- Gianluca Scamacca(85% match) — Scamacca is the rare Italian striker who combines a bodybuilder's frame with a poacher's cold efficiency, making him one of Serie A's most quietly dangerous forwards. His goals-per-90 sits in the top 10% of the league, but the real headline is his shot volume — top 5% — which tells you this isn't a man waiting for perfect moments, he's manufacturing them. The counterintuitive read here: his below-average pass accuracy looks like a liability until you realise a striker taking 4 shots per 90 isn't meant to be your build-up metronome.
- Benjamin Sesko(85% match) — A Target Man. Statistically, he stands out as a constant goal threat (3.4 shots/90), a proven goalscorer (0.60 goals/90), strong in aerial duels (3.5 aerials won/90) and top 10% scorer in the league. However, he loses possession under pressure (1.6 dispossessed/90).
Transfer Intelligence
Karim Adeyemi delivers 86% of the same playing style, at a 140% premium over Donyell Malen, with 0.57 goals per 90 at age 24. That's 64% of Donyell Malen's output in goals per 90 — a credible like-for-like option.
Similarity is calculated using per-90 performance data across multiple playing style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →
Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity
#1
K
Karim Adeyemi
Borussia Dortmund · Bundesliga
Germany24yContract 2027
G/900.57
A/900.38
Inside ForwardProlific
Last 5: ↑ Hotvs Malen: €35M more expensive · 3y younger · -0.32 G/90
86% match
€60.0M
#2
G
Gianluca Scamacca
Atalanta · Serie A
Italy27yContract 2027
G/900.75
A/900.09
Goal Scorer
Last 5: → Stablevs Malen: -0.14 G/90
85% match
€25.0M
#3
B
Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United · Premier League
Slovenia22yContract 2030
G/900.60
A/900.06
Target ManProlific
Last 5: → Stablevs Malen: €40M more expensive · 5y younger · -0.28 G/90
85% match
€65.0M
#4
C
Christian Pulisic
AC Milan · Serie A
United States27yContract 2027
G/900.35
A/900.17
Inside ForwardSmall Sample
Last 5: ↓ Dip84% match
€60.0M
#5
Y
Youssoufa Moukoko
FC København · Superliga
Germany21yContract 2030
G/900.18
A/900.18
Dynamic ForwardDribbler
Last 5: ↑ Hot83% match
€5.0M
#6
S
Said El Mala
FC Köln · Bundesliga
Germany19yContract 2030
G/900.75
A/900.00
Inside ForwardProlific
84% match
€40.0M
#7
M
Matija Frigan
Parma · Serie A
Croatia23yContract 2030
G/900.44
A/900.07
Complete ForwardProlific
83% match
€7.5M
#8
C
Cody Gakpo
Liverpool · Premier League
Netherlands27yContract 2028
G/900.24
A/900.17
Inside Forward
Last 5: → Stable83% match
€70.0M
#9
R
Rasmus Højlund
Napoli · Serie A
Denmark23yContract 2026
G/900.27
A/900.16
Goal Scorer
Last 5: ↓ Dip84% match
€50.0M
#10
M
Manor Solomon
Fiorentina · Serie A
Israel26yContract 2026
G/900.36
A/900.00
Inside ForwardDribbler
Last 5: ↓ Dip84% match
€9.0M
#11
H
Hee-chan Hwang
Wolverhampton Wanderers · Premier League
South Korea30yContract 2028
G/900.14
A/900.07
84% match
€8.0M
#12
S
Samuele Mulattieri
Sassuolo · Serie A
Italy25y
G/900.00
A/900.00
Target ManSmall Sample
83% match
€6.0M
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Ask AI: Why are these players similar?
Our 768-dimension Player DNA model matches playing style, physical profile, pressing intensity, and tactical fit. Ask the AI to explain exactly what makes these players statistically similar to Donyell Malen.
Ask AI about Donyell Malen →Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best alternatives to Donyell Malen?▼
The top alternatives to Donyell Malen based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Karim Adeyemi, Gianluca Scamacca, Benjamin Sesko, Christian Pulisic, Youssoufa Moukoko. 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 Donyell Malen in 2026?▼
Players with a similar profile to Donyell Malen in 2026 include Karim Adeyemi (€60.0M), Gianluca Scamacca (€25.0M), Benjamin Sesko (€65.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Donyell Malen play and who plays similarly?▼
Donyell Malen plays as a Attacker. Players with a comparable positional profile include Karim Adeyemi (Germany, €60.0M); Gianluca Scamacca (Italy, €25.0M); Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia, €65.0M); Christian Pulisic (United States, €60.0M).
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.