Using Data to Find the Best U23 Center Backs in the Segunda
The summer 2025 transfer window is just around the corner, clubs are beginning to scout the best young players who are showing signs of potential. This is a data analysis to find the best U23 center-backs in the Second Division of Spain that will be fought over in the summer.
The data metrics we will be looking at are:
- Forward passing
- Progressive Passing
- Defensive Duels
- Aerial Duels
Furthermore, all the center-backs in the charts have more than 400 minutes under their belt this season.
We will begin by forming scatter plots of the data metrics mentioned beforehand, to find the level of the center backs aged 23 and under compared to the rest of the center backs in the league. In this manner, we can identify how they are performing and decide which center backs clubs should be keeping an eye on. Later, we will find the best center backs depending on how they perform in the scatter plots and we will look at each one individually.
Forward Passing
Forward passes are crucial for center-backs as they are the ones who have to initiate the play.
Progressive Passing
This passing metric gives us more depth into the danger of each player’s passing rather than just passing the ball forward 5m. This is because this metric only includes more specific passes such as a pass 10m closer to the opposition goal if the pass comes from the opposition side of the pitch.
Defensive Duels
Dominating defensive duels is essential for any defender, as their fundamental purpose is to defend his goal, and for that, winning duels is key.
Aerial Duels
Aerial duels are essential for any defender who wants to succeed and even more, for those who press high and recover the ball up the pitch, as the opposing team will look to play long, and for that, aerial duels are required.
Results
In our final results, we can observe that the best center backs U23 so far in the second division of Spain have been Daijiro Chirino of Castellón, Loïc Williams of Granada, Diego Sánchez of Sporting, Dani Barcia of Deportivo, and David Affengruber of Elche.
Daijiro Chirino
Position: Center Back/Right Back
Country: Curaçao
Age: 23
Height: 185cm
Preferred Foot: Right
Current Club: Castellón
Context: Chirino began his career at Zwolle in the Netherlands until the Summer of 2023 when he signed for the Spanish club and has been playing there since.
In the charts, we can observe that Chirino has a great eye for a pass having high precision and a high number of progressive and forward passes per 90. Nonetheless, in his defensive aspects, he faces difficulties as despite his high precision in defensive duels he performs a low number of these actions, therefore, allowing his success rate to be higher. While, in the aerial duels, we can identify him at the bottom meaning his success rate in aerial duels is quite low.
However, if he can improve these parts of his game, seeing his ability to progress the ball from the back which is a highly demanded part of a center backs game in the modern world, he can certainly make the jump to a first division soon. However, he would have to fit into a back three which is where he can be most effective and avoid his defending deficiencies.
Loïc Williams
Position: Center Back/Defensive Midfielder
Country: Spain
Age: 23
Height: 188cm
Preferred Foot: Left
Current Club: Granada
Context: Williams began his career at Patacona, before passing through the academies of Valencia and Girona before making the step to senior football at Atlético Paso. There he spent just one year until he joined Tenerife, and this summer, Granada decided to spend €600k for his services.
The scatter plots tell us that this player has the ability to play forward passes with high precision. Nonetheless, when it comes to progressive passes, more dangerous passes that allow a team to progress up the field, his precision is above the average, however, the number of passes is quite low.
In defense, we can see that he is reliable in his defensive duels having a high precision in these as well as in aerial duels. However, he doesn’t perform as many aerial duels although, with a high precision in these, we can see that he has the ability to win these duels normally.
Overall, he is a complete defender who perhaps might not yet be ready for the first division, as he still has facets in his game that require improvement to take the next step.
Diego Sánchez
Position: Center Back/Left Back
Country: Spain
Age: 21
Height: 186cm
Preferred Foot: Left
Current Club: Real Sporting
Context: Diego Sánchez has played his whole career at Sporting, and has begun in the first team this season. Overall, we can observe that Diego Sánchez has the ability to play forward and progressive passes showing he is comfortable on the ball and proving he is compatible for a possession-based side.
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In addition, he excels in his defensive duels where he shows he is strong in this remark, nonetheless, he faces many issues aerially where his success rate is very low which is an aspect he must improve to reach the top level. Until he improves in the air, he is not prepared for the first division, even though he does show signs of promise with his defending and passing. At just 21 years of age, if he continues his development refining his aerial duels he could be one to look at in the future.
Dani Barcia
Position: Center Back
Country: Spain
Age: 22
Height: 186cm
Preferred Foot: Left
Current Club: Deportivo la Coruña
Context: Dani Barcia has come up through the ranks of Deportivo and has been playing in the first team since the summer of 2023.
The charts show us that Barcia is an excellent player on the ball with a high precision and number for forward and progressive passes, showing his ability with the ball. In addition, in the air he shows much promise, nonetheless, he lacks in his defensive duels where his success rate is quite poor.
If he can improve his defending and refine his passing to be one of the best in the league, there will certainly be clubs on the lookout for this player.
David Affenrguber
Position: Center Back/Defensive Midfielder
Country: Austria
Age: 23
Height: 185cm
Preferred Foot: Right
Current Club: Elche
Context: David Affengruber began his career at RB Salzburg before joining Liefering for two years and then resigning for RB Salzburg. After just 6 months in the first team, he left to form part of Sturm Graz for €400k, and after 3 years, he joined Elche on a free transfer where he has been playing this season.
Affengruber has been proving this season that he is possibly ready for the next step, showing a high level in his forward and progressive passing, in addition to his defensive and aerial characteristics, where he proves a precision and success rate respectively If Elche do not get promoted, he may be chased after by several La Liga clubs, or clubs from other leagues at a higher level.
By: Juan Fernandez Valencia / @ScoutLaLiga1
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / DeFodi Images