Scouting Players Research

Set-Piece Weapons: The Centre-Backs Who Win Most in the Air

Published 2026-10-09 · updated 2026-10-09 · data: Sportmonks, season 2026/2027

Set-piece teams like Arsenal build around centre-backs who attack the ball - Gabriel, Saliba, Hincapié, Mosquera. These are the centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues who win the most aerial duels per 90 minutes this season - with their Moneyball Score, because winning headers is not all a centre-back does.

Most aerial duels won per 90

#	Player	Age	Aerials won / 90	Score	Height
1	Dan Ballard Sunderland · ENG	27	5.20	60	187 cm
2	Amir Rrahmani Napoli · ITA	32	5.00	63	192 cm
3	Charlie Cresswell Rennes · FRA	24	4.40	48	187 cm
4	R. Le Guen Brest · FRA	20	4.20	65	196 cm
5	Kristoffer Ajer Brentford · ENG	28	4.00	52	198 cm
6	António Silva AFC Bournemouth · ENG	22	3.80	66	187 cm
7	James Tarkowski Everton · ENG	33	3.80	68	185 cm
8	Malick Thiaw Newcastle United · ENG	25	3.60	62	194 cm
9	Harry Maguire Manchester United · ENG	33	3.40	54	194 cm
10	Sven Botman Newcastle United · ENG	26	3.40	73	193 cm
11	Tarik Muharemović Leeds United · ENG	23	3.20	69	192 cm
12	James Hill AFC Bournemouth · ENG	24	3.20	68	184 cm

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How the figures are made: Sportmonks' season statistics for every player in Europe's top five leagues, per 90 minutes and adjusted for league strength, regressed toward the average of the position while minutes are few, and ranked against players in the same position. The Moneyball Score weighs what each position asks for. Early in a season every figure moves; it is an estimate, not a verdict.

Set-Piece Weapons: The Centre-Backs Who Win Most in the Air

Most aerial duels won per 90

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