AI DNA Similarity
Best Alternatives to Dylan Mertens
Players most similar to Dylan Mertens (Midfielder, €100K) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Top 3 Alternatives to Dylan Mertens
- 1.Bernardo Sousa Pereira Brites Martins98% DNA match·Moreirense
- 2.Thomas Bruns96% DNA match·Heracles Almelo
- 3.Celil Yüksel96% DNA match·Samsunspor
Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
RT
Intelligence Verdict
DribblesTop 4%
???Bottom 0%
“A Creator....”
See Full Verdict + Share Card →Playing Style Analysis
CreatorDefensiveSmall Sample
A Creator. Statistically, he stands out as an aggressive ball-winner (3.8 tackles/90), wins the ball cleanly (1.9 successful tackles/90), heavily involved in play (51 touches/90), a high-intensity presser (press score 3.3/90), constantly disrupting opposition build-up and top 10% tackler in the league. However, he loses possession under pressure (2.3 dispossessed/90). The three most similar players to Dylan Mertens by playing style are:
- Bernardo Sousa Pereira Brites Martins(98% match) — A Creator. Statistically, he stands out as a reliable supplier (0.15 assists/90), an aggressive ball-winner (2.8 tackles/90), wins the ball cleanly (2.1 successful tackles/90), heavily involved in play (60 touches/90), draws fouls effectively (2.7/90), a high-intensity presser (press score 3.4/90), constantly disrupting opposition build-up and top 10% tackler in the league. However, he can be exposed in 1v1 situations and prone to committing fouls (2.7/90).
- Thomas Bruns(96% match) — A Creator. Statistically, he stands out as an aggressive ball-winner (2.6 tackles/90), heavily involved in play (52 touches/90), uses long balls frequently (6.0/90) and active off the ball (2.2 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions.
- Celil Yüksel(96% match) — A Ball-Winner. Statistically, he stands out as a capable chance creator (1.4 key passes/90), an aggressive ball-winner (3.4 tackles/90), wins the ball cleanly (2.0 successful tackles/90), heavily involved in play (63 touches/90), a high-intensity presser (press score 3.6/90), constantly disrupting opposition build-up and top 10% tackler in the league. However, he loses possession under pressure (1.6 dispossessed/90).
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
B
Bernardo Sousa Pereira Brites Martins
Moreirense · Liga Portugal
Portugal28yContract 2027
KP/900.89
G/900.15
CreatorDefensive
Last 5: ↑ Hotvs Mertens: 2y younger
98% match
N/A
#2
T
Thomas Bruns
Heracles Almelo · Eredivisie
Netherlands34y
KP/900.66
G/900.08
CreatorDefensive
Last 5: → Stablevs Mertens: 4y older
96% match
N/A
#3
C
Celil Yüksel
Samsunspor · Super Lig
Turkey28yContract 2027
KP/901.42
G/900.00
Ball-WinnerDefensive
Last 5: → Stablevs Mertens: 2y younger
96% match
N/A
#4
J
Jonah Sticker
Paderborn · Bundesliga
Germany22y
KP/900.76
G/900.00
Ball-WinnerDefensive
Last 5: → Stable96% match
N/A
#5
Y
Yunus Emre Çift
Samsunspor · Super Lig
Turkey22yContract 2027
KP/900.24
G/900.00
Ball-WinnerDefensive
Last 5: ↓ Dip96% match
N/A
#6
J
Jerome Deom
Roda JC Kerkrade · Eredivisie
Belgium27y
KP/901.90
G/900.00
Box-to-BoxDefensive
Last 5: → Stable96% match
N/A
#7
P
Pierrick Capelle
Angers SCO · Ligue 1
France39yContract 2026
KP/900.85
G/900.00
Ball-WinnerDefensive
96% match
N/A
#8
J
João Graça
Rio Ave · Liga Portugal
Portugal30yContract 2026
KP/900.40
G/900.19
Box-to-BoxDefensive
96% match
N/A
#9
R
Rocco Ascone
Nordsjælland · Superliga
France22y
KP/902.16
G/900.00
Ball-WinnerCreative
Last 5: → Stable96% match
N/A
#10
J
José Luís Rocha Tavares
Santa Clara · Liga Portugal
Cape Verde22y
KP/900.76
G/900.00
Ball-WinnerDefensive
Last 5: ↓ Dip96% match
N/A
#11
D
Dyon Dorenbosch
FC Eindhoven · Eredivisie
Netherlands23yContract 2026
KP/900.67
G/900.00
Ball-WinnerDefensive
Last 5: ↑ Hot96% match
N/A
#12
O
Odysseus Velanas
PEC Zwolle · Eredivisie
Netherlands27yContract 2026
KP/902.00
G/900.33
CreatorCreative
Last 5: → Stable96% match
N/A
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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 Dylan Mertens.
Ask AI about Dylan Mertens →Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best alternatives to Dylan Mertens?▼
The top alternatives to Dylan Mertens based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Bernardo Sousa Pereira Brites Martins, Thomas Bruns, Celil Yüksel, Jonah Sticker, Yunus Emre Çift. 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 Dylan Mertens in 2026?▼
Players with a similar profile to Dylan Mertens in 2026 include Bernardo Sousa Pereira Brites Martins (N/A), Thomas Bruns (N/A), Celil Yüksel (N/A). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Dylan Mertens play and who plays similarly?▼
Dylan Mertens plays as a Midfielder. Players with a comparable positional profile include Bernardo Sousa Pereira Brites Martins (Portugal, N/A); Thomas Bruns (Netherlands, N/A); Celil Yüksel (Turkey, N/A); Jonah Sticker (Germany, N/A).
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.