⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Everton· 2025/2026 · Premier League · FULL

Best Alternatives to James Tarkowski

Centre BackEngland33y€7.0MFull profile →

Physical StopperAerial

1.38Tkl/90

0.51KP/90

Based on 3,330 min · 2025/2026 · Premier League · FULL

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 James Tarkowski

Dan Burn86% match
Newcastle United · Premier League · €5.0M
Hjalmar Ekdal86% match
Burnley · Premier League · €6.0M
Harry Maguire85% match
Manchester United · Premier League · €10.0M

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

Next: turn this shortlist into a card or a lineup.

Make Tarkowski's card →Build XI with shortlist →Share cards ↓

Intelligence Verdict

Aerials WonTop 3%

???Bottom 8%

“A Physical Stopper....”

See Full Verdict + Share Card →

Playing Style Analysis

Physical StopperAerial

A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (6.5 clearances/90), wins the physical battle (68% duel success), dominant in the air (4.0 aerials won/90, 68%) and uses long balls frequently (6.6/90). The three closest DNA matches to James Tarkowski:

Dan Burn(86% match) — A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, commanding in the air (6.2 clearances/90) and dominant in the air (4.0 aerials won/90, 61%).
Hjalmar Ekdal(86% match) — 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%).
Harry Maguire(85% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (5.8 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (71% duel success), dominant in the air (3.2 aerials won/90, 70%) and uses long balls frequently (6.0/90).

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

Make card →

Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

Dan Burn

Newcastle United · Premier League

England34yContract 2027

Tkl/901.68

KP/900.29

Physical StopperAerialSteady form

86% match

€5.0M

Compare Tarkowski vs Burn →

Ask about replacements for Tarkowski

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

Knows 56,883 players. Knows 3,481 clubs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to James Tarkowski?▼

The top alternatives to James Tarkowski based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Dan Burn, Hjalmar Ekdal, Harry Maguire, Murillo, 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 James Tarkowski in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to James Tarkowski in 2026 include Dan Burn (€5.0M), Hjalmar Ekdal (€6.0M), Harry Maguire (€10.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does James Tarkowski play and who plays similarly?▼

James Tarkowski plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Dan Burn (England, €5.0M); Hjalmar Ekdal (Sweden, €6.0M); Harry Maguire (England, €10.0M); Murillo (Brazil, €12.0M).

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.

← Back to James Tarkowski's profile·Browse all players