⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Zulte-Waregem· 2025/2026 · Pro League · FULL

Best Alternatives to Thomas Claes

Central MidfieldBelgium22y€1.2MFull profile →

Balanced Midfielder

1.03KP/90

0.07G/90

0.03A/90

Based on 2,786 min · 2025/2026 · Pro 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 Pro League & top-tier peers

Top 3 alternatives to Thomas Claes

Michel Aebischer83% match
Pisa · Serie A · €4.0M
Aster Vranckx83% match
Sassuolo · Serie A · €7.0M
Albert Sambi Lokonga83% match
Hamburger SV · Bundesliga · €8.0M

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

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Intelligence Verdict

Chances MissedTop 1%

“A Balanced Midfielder....”

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Playing Style Analysis

Balanced Midfielder

A Balanced Midfielder. Statistically, he stands out as a capable chance creator (1.0 key passes/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), heavily involved in play (59 touches/90) and active off the ball (2.5 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions. The three closest DNA matches to Thomas Claes:

Michel Aebischer(83% match) — A Box-to-Box. Statistically, he stands out as a capable chance creator (1.1 key passes/90), active in the tackle (2.0 tackles/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), heavily involved in play (61 touches/90), uses long balls frequently (5.5/90) and active off the ball (2.8 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions.
Aster Vranckx(83% match) — A Balanced Midfielder. Statistically, he stands out as active in the tackle (2.2 tackles/90) and draws fouls effectively (2.2/90).
Albert Sambi Lokonga(83% match) — A Box-to-Box. Statistically, he stands out as a capable chance creator (1.3 key passes/90), a regular goalscorer (0.26 goals/90), meticulous in distribution (88% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (56% duel success) and heavily involved in play (53 touches/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

Michel Aebischer

Pisa · Serie A

Switzerland29yContract 2026

vs Claes: 7y older

Compare Claes vs Aebischer →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Thomas Claes?▼

The top alternatives to Thomas Claes based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Michel Aebischer, Aster Vranckx, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Felix Nmecha, Maximilian Eggestein. 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 Thomas Claes in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to Thomas Claes in 2026 include Michel Aebischer (€4.0M), Aster Vranckx (€7.0M), Albert Sambi Lokonga (€8.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does Thomas Claes play and who plays similarly?▼

Thomas Claes plays as a Midfielder. Players with a comparable positional profile include Michel Aebischer (Switzerland, €4.0M); Aster Vranckx (Belgium, €7.0M); Albert Sambi Lokonga (Belgium, €8.0M); Felix Nmecha (Germany, €45.0M).

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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