Best Left-Backs in the Eredivisie (Mar 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Eredivisie Left-Backs 2023-24
Our database tracked 29 Eredivisie Left-Backs in the 2023-24 season, representing 17 clubs with a combined market value of €73.3M. The average market value for Eredivisie Left-Backs was €2.5M, with the average age at 25.2 years old.
The most valuable left-back in the Eredivisie was Souffian El Karouani, worth €12.0M and played for FC Utrecht at 25 years old. The top 5 Left-Backs averaged €8.8M in market value, including Mauro Júnior and Anass Salah-Eddine.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked left-back was Mats Rots (19 years, Twente Enschede FC, €3.0M), while the oldest was Patrick van Aanholt (35 years, Sparta Rotterdam, €500K). Research shows Left-Backs typically peak at age 27.
Historical analysis showed 18 Left-Backs (62%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Eredivisie market for Left-Backs remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2023-24 season.
💡 Use the search bar below to find specific players, or apply filters to narrow results by club, age range, or market value. Click the chart icon next to any player to view their historical value trajectory and forecast.
Explore Market Size by Position in Eredivisie
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Eredivisie Left-Backs. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 17 clubs with €73.3M combined value.
Age Distribution: Eredivisie Left-Backs
The Eredivisie LB market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 24-26 bracket (15 players, 52% of market). The 24-26 age group holds the most value at €46.0M, averaging €3.1M per player.
Top Left-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (1 players)
21-23 Years (6 players)
24-26 Years (15 players)
27-29 Years (4 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 3 Left-Backs (10% of players) control €32.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with mid (€5-15m) tier representing 17% of the Eredivisie LB pool.
Mid (€5-15M)
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: Eredivisie Left-Backs
Among 17 Eredivisie clubs, PSV Eindhoven leads with 2 Left-Backs worth €20.0M (averaging €10.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 69% of tracked Left-Backs.
PSV Eindhoven (2 Left-Backs)
FC Utrecht (3 Left-Backs)
Feyenoord Rotterdam (2 Left-Backs)
AZ Alkmaar (2 Left-Backs)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Souffian El Karouani
FC Utrecht • 25 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €11.7M
66.4
Mauro Júnior
PSV Eindhoven • 26 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €12.4M
66.0
Anass Salah-Eddine
PSV Eindhoven • 24 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.2M
58.2
Gijs Smal
Feyenoord Rotterdam • 28 years old
€9.0M
€7.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €6.1M
55.9
Jordan Bos
Feyenoord Rotterdam • 23 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.4M
52.9
Owen Wijndal
Ajax Amsterdam • 26 years old
€3.9M
€4.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.6M
50.1
Mateo Chávez
AZ Alkmaar • 21 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.3M
41.7
Mees de Wit
AZ Alkmaar • 27 years old
€3.2M
€3.0M
-5.4%
Expected: €2.6M
41.6
Mats Rots
Twente Enschede FC • 19 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.6M
40.5
Dean James
Go Ahead Eagles • 25 years old
€1.6M
€1.8M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.8M
35.6
Derry Murkin
FC Utrecht • 26 years old
€1.6M
€1.8M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.9M
35.1
Jasper Dahlhaus
Fortuna Sittard • 24 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.0M
28.8
Vasilios Zagaritis
SC Heerenveen • 24 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.0M
28.8
Arthur Zagré
Excelsior Rotterdam • 24 years old
€778K
€900K
+15.6%
Expected: €922K
27.5
Bas Kuipers
Twente Enschede FC • 31 years old
€1.2M
€900K
-22.6%
Expected: €746K
27.1
Aske Adelgaard
Go Ahead Eagles • 22 years old
€735K
€850K
+15.6%
Expected: €900K
26.6
Sherel Floranus
PEC Zwolle • 27 years old
€898K
€850K
-5.4%
Expected: €744K
25.9
Wouter Prins
FC Groningen • 22 years old
€692K
€800K
+15.6%
Expected: €847K
25.9
Boy Kemper
NAC Breda • 26 years old
€735K
€850K
+15.6%
Expected: €875K
25.8
Yannick Leliendal
FC Volendam • 23 years old
€649K
€750K
+15.6%
Expected: €803K
25.7
Scout Tools
Advanced analytics for scouting and recruitment decisions. Each tool provides unique insights into player value, potential, and market dynamics.
Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Identifies pre-peak players offering exceptional value relative to their age bracket. Higher PPVE = better value.
Understanding Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
FC Utrecht's Souffian El Karouani at 25 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 12.00×. That means Souffian El Karouani is valued 12.00× higher than the median player in the 24-26 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is PSV Eindhoven's Anass Salah-Eddine, who is 24 years old, with a 8.00× PPVE. Third is Jordan Bos of Feyenoord Rotterdam, who is 23 years old with a 5.88× PPVE.
How PPVE is calculated: PPVE compares a player's current market value to the median value of all players in their age bracket. A PPVE of 12.00× means the player is worth 1100% more than typical players their age—making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Souffian El Karouani FC Utrecht | 25 | 24-26 | €12.0M | €1.0M | 12.00× |
| #2 | Anass Salah-Eddine PSV Eindhoven | 24 | 24-26 | €8.0M | €1.0M | 8.00× |
| #3 | Jordan Bos Feyenoord Rotterdam | 23 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €850K | 5.88× |
| #4 | Mateo Chávez AZ Alkmaar | 21 | 21-23 | €3.0M | €850K | 3.53× |
| #5 | Dean James Go Ahead Eagles | 25 | 24-26 | €1.8M | €1.0M | 1.80× |
| #6 | Jasper Dahlhaus Fortuna Sittard | 24 | 24-26 | €1.0M | €1.0M | 1.00× |
| #7 | Vasilios Zagaritis SC Heerenveen | 24 | 24-26 | €1.0M | €1.0M | 1.00× |
| #8 | Aske Adelgaard Go Ahead Eagles | 22 | 21-23 | €850K | €850K | 1.00× |
| #9 | Mats Rots Twente Enschede FC | 19 | U21 | €3.0M | €3.0M | 1.00× |
| #10 | Wouter Prins FC Groningen | 22 | 21-23 | €800K | €850K | 0.94× |
| #11 | Arthur Zagré Excelsior Rotterdam | 24 | 24-26 | €900K | €1.0M | 0.90× |
| #12 | Yannick Leliendal FC Volendam | 23 | 21-23 | €750K | €850K | 0.88× |
| #13 | Djevencio van der Kust Heracles Almelo | 24 | 24-26 | €600K | €1.0M | 0.60× |
| #14 | Simon Janssen Excelsior Rotterdam | 25 | 24-26 | €450K | €1.0M | 0.45× |
| #15 | Mike Kleijn Sparta Rotterdam | 21 | 21-23 | €250K | €850K | 0.29× |
| #16 | Marko Kerkez Fortuna Sittard | 25 | 24-26 | €250K | €1.0M | 0.25× |
| #17 | Lorenzo Milani Heracles Almelo | 24 | 24-26 | €225K | €1.0M | 0.23× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
Understanding Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Twente Enschede FC's Mats Rots at 19 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means Mats Rots is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 7 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Sparta Rotterdam's Mike Kleijn, who is 21 years old, with a +30% RPP (5 years to peak). Third is Mateo Chávez of AZ Alkmaar, who is 21 years old with a +30% RPP (5 years to peak).
How RPP is calculated: RPP compares a player's current market value to their forecasted peak value, calculating the percentage appreciation potential. A 40% RPP means the player is expected to gain 40% value as they enter their prime—making them excellent growth investments.
Recovery Potential by Player
| Rank | Player | Age | Years to Peak | Current | Peak Forecast | RPP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mats Rots Twente Enschede FC | 19 | 7 | €3.0M | €5.0M | +40% |
| #2 | Mike Kleijn Sparta Rotterdam | 21 | 5 | €250K | €359K | +30% |
| #3 | Mateo Chávez AZ Alkmaar | 21 | 5 | €3.0M | €4.3M | +30% |
| #4 | Aske Adelgaard Go Ahead Eagles | 22 | 4 | €850K | €1.1M | +25% |
| #5 | Wouter Prins FC Groningen | 22 | 4 | €800K | €1.1M | +25% |
| #6 | Yannick Leliendal FC Volendam | 23 | 3 | €750K | €932K | +20% |
| #7 | Jordan Bos Feyenoord Rotterdam | 23 | 3 | €5.0M | €6.2M | +20% |
| #8 | Djevencio van der Kust Heracles Almelo | 24 | 2 | €600K | €694K | +14% |
| #9 | Anass Salah-Eddine PSV Eindhoven | 24 | 2 | €8.0M | €9.2M | +14% |
| #10 | Jasper Dahlhaus Fortuna Sittard | 24 | 2 | €1.0M | €1.2M | +14% |
| #11 | Vasilios Zagaritis SC Heerenveen | 24 | 2 | €1.0M | €1.2M | +14% |
| #12 | Lorenzo Milani Heracles Almelo | 24 | 2 | €225K | €260K | +14% |
| #13 | Arthur Zagré Excelsior Rotterdam | 24 | 2 | €900K | €1.0M | +14% |
| #14 | Souffian El Karouani FC Utrecht | 25 | 1 | €12.0M | €12.9M | +7% |
| #15 | Marko Kerkez Fortuna Sittard | 25 | 1 | €250K | €269K | +7% |
| #16 | Simon Janssen Excelsior Rotterdam | 25 | 1 | €450K | €484K | +7% |
| #17 | Dean James Go Ahead Eagles | 25 | 1 | €1.8M | €1.9M | +7% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Twente Enschede FC's Mats Rots has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Mats Rots has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is AZ Alkmaar's Mateo Chávez with a 33.7 RAU (10% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Mike Kleijn of Sparta Rotterdam with a 33.7 RAU (10% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 58.0 means the upside is 58.0× greater than the uncertainty—making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.
Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mats Rots Twente Enschede FC | €3.6M | €3.1M-4.1M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | Mateo Chávez AZ Alkmaar | €3.3M | €2.9M-3.8M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #3 | Mike Kleijn Sparta Rotterdam | €276K | €238K-314K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #4 | Jordan Bos Feyenoord Rotterdam | €5.4M | €4.7M-6.0M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #5 | Yannick Leliendal FC Volendam | €803K | €707K-899K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #6 | Aske Adelgaard Go Ahead Eagles | €900K | €792K-1.0M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #7 | Wouter Prins FC Groningen | €847K | €745K-948K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #8 | Boy Kemper NAC Breda | €875K | €770K-980K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #9 | Owen Wijndal Ajax Amsterdam | €4.6M | €4.1M-5.2M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #10 | Mauro Júnior PSV Eindhoven | €12.4M | €10.9M-13.8M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #11 | Derry Murkin FC Utrecht | €1.9M | €1.6M-2.1M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #12 | Kolbeinn Finnsson FC Utrecht | €669K | €589K-750K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #13 | Lorenzo Milani Heracles Almelo | €230K | €203K-258K | +2% | 9.8 |
| #14 | Arthur Zagré Excelsior Rotterdam | €922K | €811K-1.0M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #15 | Djevencio van der Kust Heracles Almelo | €614K | €541K-688K | +2% | 9.8 |
| #16 | Anass Salah-Eddine PSV Eindhoven | €8.2M | €7.2M-9.2M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #17 | Jasper Dahlhaus Fortuna Sittard | €1.0M | €901K-1.1M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #18 | Vasilios Zagaritis SC Heerenveen | €1.0M | €901K-1.1M | +2% | 9.8 |
Roster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
What This Shows
Z-Score explained: Measures how many standard deviations a player's strength is from the position average. Z-Score = 0 means average, +1.0 is one standard deviation above average, -1.0 is below average.
How to use: RPI < -1.0 indicates critical depth shortage. These positions need immediate reinforcement. RPI > +1.0 suggests strong depth, allowing selective, high-value additions only.
Current market: left-back position shows strong depth (avg Z-score: 0.00). RPI: 0.00.
Position Depth Analysis
Highest Z-Scores
Lowest Z-Scores
Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
FC Utrecht's Kolbeinn Finnsson in the 24-26 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +11.0%. That means Souffian El Karouani captures 62.8% of total market value while representing only 51.7% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is PSV Eindhoven's Mauro Júnior with a +11.0% ASC (62.8% value share vs 51.7% player share in 24-26 bracket). Third is Owen Wijndal of Ajax Amsterdam with a +11.0% ASC (62.8% value vs 51.7% players in 24-26 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +11.0% ASC means the player captures 11.0% more market value than their numerical representation—indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.
Value Concentration by Player
| Rank | Player | Age Bracket | Value Share | Player Share | ASC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kolbeinn Finnsson FC Utrecht | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #2 | Mauro Júnior PSV Eindhoven | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #3 | Owen Wijndal Ajax Amsterdam | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #4 | Boy Kemper NAC Breda | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #5 | Simon Janssen Excelsior Rotterdam | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #6 | Derry Murkin FC Utrecht | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #7 | Anass Salah-Eddine PSV Eindhoven | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #8 | Lorenzo Milani Heracles Almelo | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #9 | Dean James Go Ahead Eagles | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #10 | Arthur Zagré Excelsior Rotterdam | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #11 | Souffian El Karouani FC Utrecht | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #12 | Jasper Dahlhaus Fortuna Sittard | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #13 | Djevencio van der Kust Heracles Almelo | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #14 | Vasilios Zagaritis SC Heerenveen | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #15 | Marko Kerkez Fortuna Sittard | 24-26 | 62.8% | 51.7% | +11.0% |
| #16 | Bas Kuipers Twente Enschede FC | 30+ | 2.7% | 10.3% | -7.6% |
| #17 | Daley Sinkgraven Fortuna Sittard | 30+ | 2.7% | 10.3% | -7.6% |
| #18 | Patrick van Aanholt Sparta Rotterdam | 30+ | 2.7% | 10.3% | -7.6% |
| #19 | Mateo Chávez AZ Alkmaar | 21-23 | 14.5% | 20.7% | -6.2% |
| #20 | Yannick Leliendal FC Volendam | 21-23 | 14.5% | 20.7% | -6.2% |
Buy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
What This Shows
How to use: "Buy Now - High Upside" = immediate priority targets. "Watch List" = monitor for 6-12 months. "Peak" = pay premium for proven performers. "Aging" = short-term depth only.
Current market: 1 immediate targets, 6 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 18 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
Price vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
What This Shows
How to use: Z-score < -1.5 = significantly undervalued (potential bargain). Z-score > +1.5 = premium pricing (requires strong justification). Within ±1.0 = fair market value.
Current market: Position median is €850K. 1 undervalued, 2 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Kleijn Sparta Rotterdam | €250K | €900K | -5.50 | Undervalued |
Anass Salah-Eddine PSV Eindhoven | €8.0M | €900K | -1.00 | Good Value |
Lorenzo Milani Heracles Almelo | €225K | €900K | -0.56 | Good Value |
Marko Kerkez Fortuna Sittard | €250K | €900K | -0.54 | Good Value |
Yannick Leliendal FC Volendam | €750K | €900K | -0.50 | Good Value |
Simon Janssen Excelsior Rotterdam | €450K | €900K | -0.37 | Fair Value |
Djevencio van der Kust Heracles Almelo | €600K | €900K | -0.25 | Fair Value |
Patrick van Aanholt Sparta Rotterdam | €500K | €900K | -0.25 | Fair Value |
Kolbeinn Finnsson FC Utrecht | €650K | €900K | -0.21 | Fair Value |
Boy Kemper NAC Breda | €850K | €900K | -0.04 | Fair Value |
Thomas Ouwejan NEC Nijmegen | €800K | €900K | -0.02 | Fair Value |
Daley Sinkgraven Fortuna Sittard | €600K | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Sherel Floranus PEC Zwolle | €850K | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Mauro Júnior PSV Eindhoven | €12.0M | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Gijs Smal Feyenoord Rotterdam | €7.0M | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Arthur Zagré Excelsior Rotterdam | €900K | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Souffian El Karouani FC Utrecht | €12.0M | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Wouter Prins FC Groningen | €800K | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Jordan Bos Feyenoord Rotterdam | €5.0M | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Mats Rots Twente Enschede FC | €3.0M | €900K | 0.00 | Fair Value |