⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Vissel Kobe· 2024 · J-League · FULL

Best Alternatives to Hotaru Yamaguchi

Defensive MidfieldJapan35y€1.5MFull profile →

Ball-Winner

0.37KP/90

0.14G/90

0.00A/90

Based on 1,952 min · 2024 · J-League · FULL

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

Note: Top DNA style matches can come from lower leagues. We also surface J-League peers ranked by market value and league tier — scroll the full list below.

DNA matchDNA style match · see league & value below

Top 3 alternatives to Hotaru Yamaguchi

Niklas Dorsch82% match
Heidenheim · Bundesliga · €3.0M
David Santos Daiber81% match
FC Bayern München · Bundesliga · €3.0M

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Intelligence Verdict

InterceptionsTop 8%

???Bottom 8%

“A Ball-Winner....”

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Playing Style Analysis

Ball-Winner

A Ball-Winner. Statistically, he stands out as reads the game exceptionally (1.8 interceptions/90) and wins the physical battle (56% duel success). The three closest DNA matches to Hotaru Yamaguchi:

Niklas Dorsch(82% match) — A Box-to-Box. Statistically, he stands out as active in the tackle (2.4 tackles/90), meticulous in distribution (89% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (61% duel success), heavily involved in play (53 touches/90) and active off the ball (2.8 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions.
David Santos Daiber(81% match) — A Ball-Winner. Statistically, he stands out as an elite creator (1.7 key passes/90), an aggressive ball-winner (3.3 tackles/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (62% duel success), heavily involved in play (62 touches/90), draws fouls effectively (2.2/90), top 10% creator in the league and top 10% tackler in the league.
Marc Aguado(81% match) — A Ball-Winner. Statistically, he stands out as active in the tackle (1.8 tackles/90), reads the game exceptionally (1.6 interceptions/90), meticulous in distribution (91% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (60% duel success), heavily involved in play (57 touches/90) and active off the ball (2.2 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions.

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

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Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

Niklas Dorsch

Heidenheim · Bundesliga

Germany28yContract 2028

KP/900.95

G/900.00

Box-to-BoxSteady form

vs Yamaguchi: 7y younger

82% match

€3.0M

Compare Yamaguchi vs Dorsch →

Ask about replacements for Yamaguchi

Same DNA shortlist as above — budget fit, who to avoid, or why the top match works.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Hotaru Yamaguchi?▼

The top alternatives to Hotaru Yamaguchi based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Niklas Dorsch, David Santos Daiber, Marc Aguado, Federico Redondo, Wataru Endo. 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 Hotaru Yamaguchi in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to Hotaru Yamaguchi in 2026 include Niklas Dorsch (€3.0M), David Santos Daiber (€3.0M), Marc Aguado (€3.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does Hotaru Yamaguchi play and who plays similarly?▼

Hotaru Yamaguchi plays as a Midfielder. Players with a comparable positional profile include Niklas Dorsch (Germany, €3.0M); David Santos Daiber (Portugal, €3.0M); Marc Aguado (Spain, €3.0M); Federico Redondo (Argentina, €4.0M).

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.

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