⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Bristol City· 2025/2026 · Championship · FULL

Best Alternatives to Rob Atkinson

Centre BackEngland27y€1.6MFull profile →

Physical StopperAerial

1.75Tkl/90

0.58KP/90

Based on 1,854 min · 2025/2026 · Championship · 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 Championship 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 Rob Atkinson

Nils Zätterström85% match
Genoa · Serie A · €3.0M
Joe Worrall83% match
Burnley · Premier League · €4.0M

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Intelligence Verdict

Chances MissedTop 1%

“A Physical Stopper....”

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Playing Style Analysis

Physical StopperAerial

A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (6.3 clearances/90), wins the physical battle (75% duel success), dominant in the air (4.6 aerials won/90, 71%) and active off the ball (2.2 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions. The three closest DNA matches to Rob Atkinson:

Nils Zätterström(85% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, commanding in the air (6.1 clearances/90) and meticulous in distribution (90% pass accuracy).
Joe Worrall(83% match) — A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as a reliable supplier (0.18 assists/90), commanding in the air (10.9 clearances/90) and strong in aerial duels (3.8 aerials won/90).
Michael Keane(81% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (7.0 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (62% duel success) and dominant in the air (3.9 aerials won/90, 63%).

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

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Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

Nils Zätterström

Genoa · Serie A

Sweden21yContract 2026

Tkl/900.99

KP/900.00

Ball-Playing CBAerial

vs Atkinson: 6y younger

85% match

€3.0M

Compare Atkinson vs Zätterström →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Rob Atkinson?▼

The top alternatives to Rob Atkinson based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Nils Zätterström, Joe Worrall, Michael Keane, Dan Ballard, Malick Thiaw. 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 Rob Atkinson in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to Rob Atkinson in 2026 include Nils Zätterström (€3.0M), Joe Worrall (€4.0M), Michael Keane (€4.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does Rob Atkinson play and who plays similarly?▼

Rob Atkinson plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Nils Zätterström (Sweden, €3.0M); Joe Worrall (England, €4.0M); Michael Keane (England, €4.0M); Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland, €20.0M).

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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