⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Sassuolo· 2025/2026 · Serie A · PARTIAL

Best Alternatives to M'Bala Nzola

Centre ForwardAngola29y€6.0MFull profile →

Target Man

0.26G/90

0.00A/90

Based on 1,053 min · 2025/2026 · Serie A · PARTIAL

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

DNA matchPrioritizes Serie A & top-tier peers

Top 3 alternatives to M'Bala Nzola

Jeff Ekhator86% match
Genoa · Serie A · €7.0M
Samuele Mulattieri86% match
Sassuolo · Serie A · €6.0M
Amin Sarr86% match
Hellas Verona · Serie A · €3.0M

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

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Playing Style Analysis

Target Man

A Target Man. Statistically, he stands out as a capable chance creator (1.3 key passes/90), a regular goalscorer (0.26 goals/90) and strong in aerial duels (3.1 aerials won/90). However, he loses possession under pressure (1.7 dispossessed/90). The three closest DNA matches to M'Bala Nzola:

Jeff Ekhator(86% match) — A Target Man. Statistically, he stands out as a regular goalscorer (0.29 goals/90).
Samuele Mulattieri(86% match) — Mulattieri is the kind of striker who wins headers in Serie A but struggles to win the ball at his feet—a physical presence in the box who remains curiously invisible in open play. His aerial win rate sits above the league average for attackers, a legitimate weapon in the right system, and his dribble volume places him in the top 20%—suggesting more directness than his overall profile implies.
Amin Sarr(86% match) — A Target Man. Statistically, he stands out as a capable chance creator (1.2 key passes/90) and strong in aerial duels (3.1 aerials won/90).

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

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Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

Jeff Ekhator

Genoa · Serie A

Nigeria19yContract 2029

G/900.29

A/900.00

Target ManOut of form ↓

vs Nzola: 10y younger

86% match

€7.0M

Compare Nzola vs Ekhator →

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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 M'Bala Nzola?▼

The top alternatives to M'Bala Nzola based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Jeff Ekhator, Samuele Mulattieri, Amin Sarr, Anastasios Douvikas , Henrik Meister. 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 M'Bala Nzola in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to M'Bala Nzola in 2026 include Jeff Ekhator (€7.0M), Samuele Mulattieri (€6.0M), Amin Sarr (€3.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does M'Bala Nzola play and who plays similarly?▼

M'Bala Nzola plays as a Attacker. Players with a comparable positional profile include Jeff Ekhator (Nigeria, €7.0M); Samuele Mulattieri (Italy, €6.0M); Amin Sarr (Sweden, €3.0M); Anastasios Douvikas (Greece, €10.0M).

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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