RisingTransfers
AI DNA Similarity

Best Alternatives to Hjalmar Ekdal

Players most similar to Hjalmar Ekdal (Defender, €6.0M) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.

Top 3 Alternatives to Hjalmar Ekdal

  1. 1.Kevin Danso87% DNA match·Tottenham Hotspur€22.0M
  2. 2.James Tarkowski86% DNA match·Everton€7.0M
  3. 3.Sepp van den Berg86% DNA match·Brentford€28.0M

Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.

RT

Intelligence Verdict

Aerials WonTop 6%
???Bottom 18%

A Ball-Playing CB....

See Full Verdict + Share Card →

Playing Style Analysis

Ball-Playing CBAerial

A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (7.3 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (85% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (64% duel success) and dominant in the air (3.0 aerials won/90, 63%). The three most similar players to Hjalmar Ekdal by playing style are:

  • Kevin Danso(87% match)A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as active in the tackle (1.9 tackles/90), commanding in the air (8.3 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (62% duel success), central to possession (78 touches/90), dominant in the air (4.8 aerials won/90, 63%) and uses long balls frequently (6.0/90).
  • James Tarkowski(86% match)A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (6.6 clearances/90), wins the physical battle (68% duel success), dominant in the air (4.0 aerials won/90, 68%) and uses long balls frequently (6.7/90).
  • Sepp van den Berg(86% match)A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (6.2 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (88% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (66% duel success) and dominant in the air (4.6 aerials won/90, 68%).

Transfer Intelligence

Kevin Danso delivers 87% of the same playing style, at a 267% premium over Hjalmar Ekdal, with 1.84 tackles won per 90 at age 27.

Similarity is calculated using per-90 performance data across multiple playing style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →

H
Comparison Base
Hjalmar Ekdal
DefenderSweden€6.0M
Full profile →

Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

#1
K
Kevin Danso
Tottenham Hotspur · Premier League
Austria27yContract 2030
Tkl/901.84
KP/900.20
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
Last 5: → Stable
vs Ekdal: €16M more expensive
87% match
€22.0M
#2
J
James Tarkowski
Everton · Premier League
England33yContract 2026
Tkl/901.31
KP/900.51
Physical StopperAerial
Last 5: → Stable
vs Ekdal: 6y older
86% match
€7.0M
#3
S
Sepp van den Berg
Brentford · Premier League
Netherlands24yContract 2029
Tkl/900.64
KP/900.20
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: → Stable
vs Ekdal: €22M more expensive · 3y younger
86% match
€28.0M
#4
J
Jaka Bijol
Leeds United · Premier League
Slovenia27yContract 2030
Tkl/901.30
KP/900.36
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: ↓ Dip
85% match
€18.0M
#5
J
Jan Paul van Hecke
Brighton & Hove Albion · Premier League
Netherlands25yContract 2027
Tkl/901.54
KP/900.36
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
Last 5: → Stable
85% match
€35.0M
#6
M
Murillo
Nottingham Forest · Premier League
Brazil23yContract 2029
Tkl/901.48
KP/900.38
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: → Stable
84% match
€12.0M
#7
M
Malick Thiaw
Newcastle United · Premier League
Germany24yContract 2029
Tkl/901.29
KP/900.19
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: ↑ Hot
84% match
€45.0M
#8
B
Bafodé Diakité
AFC Bournemouth · Premier League
France25y
Tkl/901.41
KP/900.21
Ball-Playing CBAerial
84% match
€30.0M
#9
K
Kristoffer Ajer
Brentford · Premier League
Norway28yContract 2028
Tkl/901.87
KP/900.26
Physical StopperAerial
Last 5: ↓ Dip
84% match
€18.0M
#10
P
Pascal Struijk
Leeds United · Premier League
Netherlands26yContract 2027
Tkl/901.17
KP/900.38
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
Last 5: → Stable
84% match
€22.0M
#11
L
Ladislav Krejci
Wolverhampton Wanderers · Premier League
Czech Republic27yContract 2026
Tkl/901.10
KP/900.33
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: ↑ Hot
84% match
€22.0M
#12
M
Maxence Lacroix
Crystal Palace · Premier League
France26yContract 2029
Tkl/901.75
KP/900.21
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: → Stable
84% match
€35.0M

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 Hjalmar Ekdal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Hjalmar Ekdal?
The top alternatives to Hjalmar Ekdal based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Kevin Danso, James Tarkowski, Sepp van den Berg, Jaka Bijol, Jan Paul van Hecke. 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 Hjalmar Ekdal in 2026?
Players with a similar profile to Hjalmar Ekdal in 2026 include Kevin Danso (€22.0M), James Tarkowski (€7.0M), Sepp van den Berg (€28.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Hjalmar Ekdal play and who plays similarly?
Hjalmar Ekdal plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Kevin Danso (Austria, €22.0M); James Tarkowski (England, €7.0M); Sepp van den Berg (Netherlands, €28.0M); Jaka Bijol (Slovenia, €18.0M).
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.