⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Millwall· 2025/2026 · Championship · PARTIAL

Best Alternatives to Ryan Leonard

DefenderEngland34y€1.1MFull profile →

Physical Stopper

2.85Tkl/90

0.62KP/90

Based on 1,608 min · 2025/2026 · Championship · PARTIAL

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

DNA matchPrioritizes Championship & top-tier peers

Top 3 alternatives to Ryan Leonard

Dan Ballard85% match
Sunderland · Premier League · €20.0M
Nils Zätterström85% match
Genoa · Serie A · €3.0M
Giovanni Leoni84% match
Liverpool · Premier League · €25.0M

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

Physical Stopper

A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as an aggressive ball-winner (2.9 tackles/90), wins the physical battle (57% duel success), penetrates with forward passing (12.1 final-third passes/90), wins the ball cleanly (1.9 successful tackles/90), uses long balls frequently (8.7/90), active off the ball (2.3 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions and top 10% tackler in the league. The three closest DNA matches to Ryan Leonard:

Dan Ballard(85% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (7.8 clearances/90), wins the physical battle (59% duel success), strong in aerial duels (4.4 aerials won/90) and uses long balls frequently (6.6/90).
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).
Giovanni Leoni(84% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (4.6 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (89% pass accuracy) and wins the physical battle (61% duel success).

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

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Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

Dan Ballard

Sunderland · Premier League

Northern Ireland26yContract 2028

Tkl/901.38

KP/900.67

Ball-Playing CBAerialSteady form

vs Leonard: €19M more expensive · 8y younger

85% match

€20.0M

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Ryan Leonard?▼

The top alternatives to Ryan Leonard based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Dan Ballard, Nils Zätterström, Giovanni Leoni, Pedro Lima, Emanuele Valeri. 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 Ryan Leonard in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to Ryan Leonard in 2026 include Dan Ballard (€20.0M), Nils Zätterström (€3.0M), Giovanni Leoni (€25.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does Ryan Leonard play and who plays similarly?▼

Ryan Leonard plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland, €20.0M); Nils Zätterström (Sweden, €3.0M); Giovanni Leoni (Italy, €25.0M); Pedro Lima (Brazil, €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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