Best Defenders in the La Liga 2025/26
Per-90 performance rankings · Rising Transfers DNA Analysis · 25 players ranked
Based on per-90 statistics across 25 La Liga defenders in 2025/26, Jon Martín leads the ranking as a Aerial Defender with a composite score of 0.72. David Affengruber (Ball-Playing CB) ranks second at 0.72, followed by Eric García (Ball-Playing CB) at 0.71. All rankings are calculated using Rising Transfers' 47-dimension per-90 analysis methodology.
Methodology: Per-90 stats explained · DNA matching
Jon Martín
16 games · Spain
David Affengruber
25 games · Austria
Eric García
23 games · Spain
Full La Liga Defenders Rankings
| # | Player | Style | TW/90 | Int/90 | Clr/90 | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jon Martín | Aerial Defender | 0.59 | 1.44 | 6.17 | 16 | Similar → |
| 2 | David Affengruber | Ball-Playing CB | 1.38 | 1.48 | 5.44 | 25 | Similar → |
| 3 | Eric García | Ball-Playing CB | 1.53 | 1.62 | 2.66 | 23 | Similar → |
| 4 | Pedro Bigas | Ball-Playing CB | 0.85 | 1.33 | 4.57 | 20 | Similar → |
| 5 | Daley Blind | Ball-Playing CB | 1.22 | 1.34 | 4.34 | 24 | Similar → |
| 6 | Adrián Dela | Ball-Playing CB | 0.61 | 1.71 | 5.76 | 22 | Similar → |
| 7 | Pau Cubarsí | Ball-Playing CB | 0.89 | 1.00 | 4.88 | 21 | Similar → |
| 8 | Florian Lejeune | Ball-Playing CB | 1.15 | 1.39 | 6.37 | 24 | Similar → |
| 9 | Jon Aramburu | Active Full-Back | 2.17 | 1.50 | 2.97 | 26 | Similar → |
| 10 | Yuri Berchiche | Active Full-Back | 0.98 | 1.24 | 3.47 | 23 | Similar → |
| 11 | Marcos Alonso | Ball-Playing CB | 0.78 | 0.97 | 5.14 | 24 | Similar → |
| 12 | José Copete | Ball-Playing CB | 0.82 | 1.23 | 5.72 | 19 | Similar → |
| 13 | Marc Bartra | Ball-Playing CB | 0.87 | 1.23 | 7.24 | 22 | Similar → |
| 14 | Aitor Paredes | Ball-Playing CB | 0.81 | 1.58 | 4.21 | 16 | Similar → |
| 15 | Vitor Reis | Ball-Playing CB | 0.84 | 0.97 | 6.18 | 24 | Similar → |
| 16 | Víctor Chust | Ball-Playing CB | 1.37 | 0.76 | 3.46 | 21 | Similar → |
| 17 | Alejandro Catena | Ball-Playing CB | 0.95 | 1.02 | 6.32 | 16 | Similar → |
| 18 | Antonio Raíllo | Ball-Playing CB | 0.56 | 0.71 | 5.31 | 18 | Similar → |
| 19 | Santiago Mouriño | Active Full-Back | 2.22 | 1.15 | 4.94 | 17 | Similar → |
| 20 | Matías Moreno | Ball-Playing CB | 1.09 | 1.34 | 5.03 | 18 | Similar → |
| 21 | Jules Koundé | Active Full-Back | 0.99 | 1.29 | 2.24 | 19 | Similar → |
| 22 | Duje Caleta-Car | Ball-Playing CB | 0.67 | 1.10 | 5.34 | 20 | Similar → |
| 23 | José Ángel Carmona | Active Full-Back | 1.47 | 1.42 | 2.65 | 21 | Similar → |
| 24 | Carl Starfelt | Ball-Playing CB | 0.97 | 1.02 | 6.51 | 17 | Similar → |
| 25 | Diego Rico | Defender | 1.58 | 1.59 | 3.03 | 21 | Similar → |
KP = Key passes · TW = Tackles won · Int = Interceptions · Clr = Clearances · GC = Goals conceded
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best defender in the La Liga right now?
Based on per-90 data in 2025/26, Jon Martín is the top-ranked defender in the La Liga. Jon Martín is classified as a Aerial Defender by Rising Transfers' DNA analysis system.
How are La Liga defenders ranked on Rising Transfers?
Rising Transfers ranks defenders using a composite per-90 score across key performance dimensions specific to the position. All statistics are normalised per 90 minutes of play to allow fair comparison between players with different minutes. Only players with 1,350+ minutes (equivalent to approximately 15 full matches) are included to ensure statistical reliability.
What does the DNA archetype mean for defenders?
Each player is assigned a DNA archetype (e.g. Creator, Ball-Winner, Pressing Forward) based on their playing style vector — a 768-dimensional representation of their per-90 performance across 47 metrics. The archetype describes how the player plays, not just their position.
How often is the La Liga defender ranking updated?
Rankings are recalculated weekly as new match data is processed into Rising Transfers' DNA pipeline. The underlying per-90 statistics are sourced from live match data across the La Liga season.
Defenders Rankings in Other Leagues
Other Positions in the La Liga
Rankings are generated by Rising Transfers using per-90 statistics from the 2025/26 La Liga season. Only players with 1,350+ minutes in the current season are included to ensure statistical reliability. Scores are computed using a position-specific composite formula across 47 performance dimensions. Data is refreshed weekly. Learn more about our methodology →
Some players may be excluded due to data availability (e.g. mid-season transfers, injury absences, or cup-only appearances). Rankings reflect on-pitch statistical performance and do not account for team defensive structure or shot quality — elite players on dominant teams may rank lower on volume-based metrics.