AI DNA Similarity
Best Alternatives to Vanja Drkusic
Players most similar to Vanja Drkusic (Defender, €4.0M) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Top 3 Alternatives to Vanja Drkusic
- 1.Nermin Zolotić88% DNA match·Noah
- 2.Radu Drăgușin87% DNA match·Tottenham Hotspur€22.0M
- 3.Josip Calusic88% DNA match·Konyaspor
Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Playing Style Analysis
Ball-Playing CB
A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as wins the physical battle (67% duel success), dominant in the air (3.3 aerials won/90, 72%) and uses long balls frequently (7.7/90). The three most similar players to Vanja Drkusic by playing style are:
- Nermin Zolotić(88% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as active in the tackle (2.1 tackles/90), wins the physical battle (71% duel success) and uses long balls frequently (7.2/90). Note: this profile is based on 627 minutes of playing time this season.
- Radu Drăgușin(87% match) — Radu Drăgușin is a Ball-Playing CB. Progressive defender comfortable on the ball. Statistically, he stands out as meticulous in distribution (85% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (60% duel success), heavily involved in possession (60 passes/90), central to possession (71 touches/90) and uses long balls frequently (6.3/90).
- Josip Calusic(88% match) — Josip Ćalušić is a Ball-Playing CB. Progressive defender comfortable on the ball. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (4.5 clearances/90), reads the game exceptionally (1.6 interceptions/90) and meticulous in distribution (89% pass accuracy).
Transfer Intelligence
Radu Drăgușin delivers 87% of the same playing style, at a 450% premium over Vanja Drkusic, with 1.03 tackles won per 90 at age 24.
Similarity is calculated using per-90 performance data across multiple playing style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →
Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity
#1
N
Nermin Zolotić
Noah · Liga Portugal
Bosnia and Herzegovina32y
Tkl/900.00
KP/900.00
Ball-Playing CBSmall Sample
vs Drkusic: 6y older
88% match
N/A
#2
R
Radu Drăgușin
Tottenham Hotspur · Premier League
Romania24yContract 2030
Tkl/901.03
KP/900.00
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
Last 5: → Stablevs Drkusic: €18M more expensive · 2y younger
87% match
€22.0M
#3
J
Josip Calusic
Konyaspor · Super Lig
Croatia32yContract 2026
Tkl/900.61
KP/900.31
Reading DefenderAerial Defender
vs Drkusic: 6y older
88% match
N/A
#4
D
Derek Cornelius
Rangers · Ligue 1
Canada28yContract 2026
Tkl/902.42
KP/900.16
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
86% match
€3.0M
#5
Z
Zan Zaletel
Viborg FF · Superliga
Slovenia26yContract 2027
Tkl/900.48
KP/900.00
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
Last 5: ↑ Hot87% match
N/A
#6
J
Justin Bakker
Katwijk · Eredivisie
Netherlands28y
Tkl/900.98
KP/900.98
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
86% match
N/A
#7
E
Emil Christensen
B 93 · Superliga
Denmark28y
Tkl/900.85
KP/900.00
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: → Stable86% match
N/A
#8
T
Tomislav Glumac
Ümraniyespor · Super Lig
Croatia34yContract 2026
Tkl/901.06
KP/900.29
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: → Stable85% match
N/A
#9
A
Andrea Masiello
Südtirol · Serie A
Italy40yContract 2026
Tkl/901.42
KP/900.24
Ball-Playing CBSmall Sample
Last 5: ↓ Dip85% match
N/A
#10
M
Martin Ens
Verl · Bundesliga
Germany24y
Tkl/900.57
KP/900.00
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
86% match
N/A
#11
A
A. Andersson
Aalborg BK · Superliga
Sweden29y
Tkl/902.13
KP/901.29
Ball-Playing CB
Last 5: ↓ Dip85% match
N/A
#12
J
Jonas Svensson
Beşiktaş · Super Lig
Norway33y
Tkl/903.31
KP/900.26
Ball-Playing CB
Last 5: ↓ Dip85% match
N/A
⬡
Ask AI: Why are these players similar?
Our 768-dimension Player DNA model matches playing style, physical profile, pressing intensity, and tactical fit. Ask the AI to explain exactly what makes these players statistically similar to Vanja Drkusic.
Ask AI about Vanja Drkusic →Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best alternatives to Vanja Drkusic?▼
The top alternatives to Vanja Drkusic based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Nermin Zolotić, Radu Drăgușin, Josip Calusic, Derek Cornelius, Zan Zaletel. 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 Vanja Drkusic in 2026?▼
Players with a similar profile to Vanja Drkusic in 2026 include Nermin Zolotić (N/A), Radu Drăgușin (€22.0M), Josip Calusic (N/A). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Vanja Drkusic play and who plays similarly?▼
Vanja Drkusic plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Nermin Zolotić (Bosnia and Herzegovina, N/A); Radu Drăgușin (Romania, €22.0M); Josip Calusic (Croatia, N/A); Derek Cornelius (Canada, €3.0M).
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.