From Rüdiger to Rugani: 15 of the best young centre-backs in Europe

There is nothing more satisfying than a young gifted footballer opting to choose defending as their chosen career path – while the strikers still earn more praise – it’s these guys who deserve the plaudits.

What is even more exciting is when the talented defensive starlets can perform the role of centre back in such an elegant manner that it turns your attention away from Neymar’s trickery, Philippe Coutinho’s blind passes and Paulo Dybala’s exquisite finishing and makes you admire a good old fashioned slide tackle or towering header.

This talented crop of young guns have already started to perform at the top level and despite being at the beginning of their careers most already play for one of the top teams in Europe and are benefitting from excellent coaching and European experience.

It’s difficult to find a high-quality defender and any sides hoping to snap up any of this lot would be expected to shell out the big bucks as they guarantee a touch of class among any side’s back four.
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We’ve selected the finest centre backs under the age of 23 and picked out best 15:
 

Antonio Rüdiger

Age: 23

Club: Roma

Notable stat: Has won 53% of his headed duels this season

Fun Fact: He spent three years at Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy

Strengths: Pace, balance, tackling

Weaknesses: Dribbling, concentration 

Roma signed Antonio Rüdiger on loan from Stuttgart in 2015 after the player had impressed during his 80 appearances for the German club. He has been a regular starter in Italy during the 2015/16 campaign and it’s likely that the Giallorossi will activate his option-to-buy clause at the end of the season.
 

Aymeric Laporte

Age: 21

Club: Athletic Club

Notable stat: Has scored three goals in 23 appearances in La Liga this season

Fun Fact: He was selected in the 2013/14 La Liga team of the year, aged 19

Strengths: Anticipation, marking, positioning

Weaknesses: Leadership, acceleration 

 Leading the way as one of the most talked about young central defenders in world football, Aymeric Laporte has been linked with a whole host of clubs including Spanish giants Barcelona.
 

Kurt Zouma

Age: 21

Club: Chelsea
Notable stat: Has won 58% of his tackles this season

Fun Fact: He started out as a right winger

Strengths: Decisions, balance, strength

Weaknesses: First touch, flair

Very highly regarded during his time playing in France for Saint-Etienne Kurt Zouma was expected to flourish for Chelsea and has widely impressed with a number of excellent Premier League performances.
 

Raphaël Varane

Age: 22

Club: Real Madrid

Notable stat: He has averaged 88% pass completion this season

Fun Fact: He is the youngest player to captain France

Strengths: Positioning, concentration, tackling

Weaknesses: Leadership, off the ball

Arguably the best young centre back in world football, Real Madrid’s Raphaël Varane is somehow still just 22 and possesses a number of outstanding attributes such as strength, tackling and pace. He has already gained a wealth of top level experience and is currently one of Los Blancos few trump cards on Barcelona.
 

José Giménez

Age: 21

Club: Atlético Madrid

Notable stat: Averages nine defensive actions per game this season

Fun Fact: He is the youngest Uruguayan player to debut at a World Cup (aged 19)

Strengths: Heading, composure, tackling

Weaknesses: Concentration, jumping

After bursting onto the scene this year under the guidance of Diego Simeone, Giménez is one of the most improved young centre backs in world football and has benefitted immensely from playing alongside Diego Godín on a regular basis.
 

Alessio Romagnoli

Age: 21

Club: AC Milan

Notable stat: Has won 66% of his aerial duels this season

Fun Fact: He made his Roma debut when he was just 17

Strengths: Balance, strength, stamina

Weaknesses: Agility, off the ball

AC Milan paid a lot of money to take Alessio Romagnoli away from Roma and the talented centre back is already a mainstay in Milan’s first team. Blessed with excellent physical attributes the defender has played 28 games this Serie A season and scored two goals.
 

Daniele Rugani

Age: 21

Club: Juventus

Notable stat: Has won 67% of his tackles this season

Fun Fact: Featured in the Serie A 2014/15 Team of the Year

Strengths: Stamina, heading, concentration

Weaknesses: Acceleration, leadership 

After starting his youth career at Empoli, Daniele Rugani moved to Juventus before rejoining the former in 2013 – signing his first professional contract. After two seasons at the club he has once again returned to Juve and is currently benefitting from the expert tuition of the Old Lady’s centre-back trio.
 

John Stones

Age: 21

Club: Everton
Notable stat: Has made 84 clearances this season

Fun Fact: Was shortlisted for the 2014 Golden Boy Award

Strengths: Natural fitness, tackling, bravery

Weaknesses: Determination, aggression

Everton turned down three bids from Chelsea in order to keep their immensely talented centre back and it will be interesting to see if they can hold off further pressure to sell in the summer. The England international as developed very quickly during his time at Goodison Park and is one of the Premier League’s most competent and skilful defenders.
 

Jonathan Tah

Age: 20

Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Notable stat: Has created six key chances this season

Fun Fact: Aged 14 he helped his side become the German National Indoor champions for his age group

Strengths: Marking, jumping, tackling

Weaknesses: Determination 

A product of the Hamburger SV academy, Jonathan Tah spent two years at the club before earning a big move to Bayer Leverkusen and signing a five-year contract. He has been a regular feature in Roger Schmidt’s side this season and swiftly became one of Europe’s most promising central defenders.
 

Samuel Umtiti

Age: 22

Club: Lyon

Notable stat: Has won 73% of his headed duels this season

Fun Fact: Was born in Cameroon but is a French youth international

Strengths: Marking, positioning

Weaknesses: First touch

A versatile defender whose favoured position is centre back Samuel Untiti has represented France at every youth level and has made 28 appearances for Lyon this season.
 

Marquinhos

Age: 21

Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Notable stat: He has averaged 93% pass completion this season.

Fun Fact: His transfer from Roma to PSG is the third highest fee paid for a teenager behind Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial

Strengths: Marking, decisions, technique, work-rate

Weaknesses: Strength

 A wonderfully composed and elegant centre half, Marquinhos oozes skill and has become an integral part of the Paris Saint-Germain squad who are currently dominating the French Division.
 

Jairo Riedewald

Age: 19

Club: Ajax

Notable stat: He has completed 77% of his attempted take-ons

Fun Fact: He is the youngest scoring debutant in Ajax’s entire history

Strengths: Jumping, marking, positioning

Weaknesses: Determination, first touch

The youngest name on the list, Jairo Riedewald has played 31 games in all competitions for Ajax this season and is blessed with natural defensive ability. The defender is a real triumph to the club’s renowned youth system where he educated himself for seven years before making his breakthrough into the first team in 2013.
 

Eric Dier

Age: 22

Club: Tottenham

Notable stat: He has created 14 chances this season

Fun Fact: Sporting pipped Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal to signing the player in 2010

Strengths: Composure, pace, anticipation

Weaknesses: Off the ball, dribbling

Despite developing into an excellent defensive midfielder (and right back) under Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur, Eric Dier has all the attributes to succeed as a centre back and could easily play their for England in the near future.
 

Andreas Christensen

Age: 19

Club: Chelsea (loan Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Notable stat: Has made 56 successful interceptions this season

Fun Fact: Has already made two caps for Denmark’s senior side, aged 19

Strengths: Jumping, heading, tackling

Weaknesses: Composure

Chelsea loanee Andreas Christensen is full of potential and he will only develop further during his two-year loan deal with Gladbach. A regular starter for the German club, it’s amazing that he is only 19 years old and his towering build and athletic frame is certainly something the Blues will be keeping an eye on.
 

Niklas Süle

Age: 20

Club: Hoffenheim

Notable stat: Has averaged 85% pass completion this season

Fun Fact: Was a runner up in the 2012 U17 European Championships with Germany

Strengths: Heading, strength, tackling

Weaknesses: Work-rate

A graduate of the Hoffenheim academy, Niklas Süle has turned into a wonderful centre-back and, aged just 20, will be sure to gather the attention of some of Europe’s top sides in the near future.