As a position, center backs are underrated in general, because they have to do so much heavy lifting to stop the opposition’s best attackers and are being tasked with more playmaking and on-the-ball ability under pressure – even moreso in modern football than ever before.
Here are 10 center backs who are especially underrated. These are young players who haven’t yet been picked out as top transfer targets, or they are more experienced players in their primes who have somehow flown under the radar, largely because they star for clubs outside of the spotlight.
Joachim Andersen, Crystal Palace
Even though Joachim Anderen has been operating at the highest level while starting for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, the vast majority of fans around the world don’t know how good he is.
Perhaps Andersen is underrated because he’s overshadowed by England international Marc Guehi, but he’s honestly been at least as good over the past few years in the Premier League for both Crystal Palace and Fulham.
Last season, Andersen averaged 1.5 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, and 5.3 clearances per game while being dribbled past just 0.3 times per match.
Yerson Mosquera, Wolves
Yerson Mosquera spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Villarreal, and fans of the Yellow Submarine would love nothing more than to make the 23-year-old’s stay in Spain permanent after he was quite literally one of the best center backs in European football.
Wolves, however, need to count on Mosquera as a replacement – or even upgrade – for Max Kilman after the latter’s departure to former Wolves, Real Madrid, and Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham.
In 2023/24, Mosquera averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game for Villarreal while being dribbled past just 0.2 times. It remains to be seen how Mosquera’s breakout will translate to the Premier League, but with how well he played, there should be nothing but optimism.
Loic Bade, Sevilla
An even better LaLiga center back, Loic Bade formed one half of one of the best center back partnerships in European football last season alongside Sevilla legend Sergio Ramos.
Although Ramos will be moving on to the final chapter of his career, Bade is heading into his prime, and as brilliant as Ramos still was at the age of 38, Bade was unmistakably the star of the Sevilla defense and the best player on an otherwise awful team.
In the previous season, Bade was money, too, shining brighter than any other player on the team, especially in the Europa League Final in which Sevilla outlasted Jose Mourinho’s Roma to win their signature competition – even in a season in which they were under the threat of relegation in the first half of the campaign.
The 24-year-old Frenchman is overshadowed by many of his compatriots but is yet another brilliant, all-around defender who wins aerial duels, outsmarts strikers off the ball, rarely makes mistakes with his passing, and makes plenty of interventions with 2.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game.
Mohamed Simakan, RB Leipzig
You have to side-eye even the most elite clubs like Real Madrid and wonder why top teams aren’t calling up RB Leipzig and demanding to discuss a Mohamed Simakan transfer, because he’s been one of the best defenders in Europe even before he stepped foot in Leipzig.
Simakan starred for Strasbourg in 2019/20 and 2020/21 as a U21 center back, averaging 1.6 interceptions per game in both seasons with nearly 3 tackles per contest in the 19/20 campaign.
Then, Simakan got his big move to Leipzig, where he hasn’t disappointed, still shining even as he has transitioned to making some starts at right back. Just 24, Simakan is entering his prime as a seasoned, legitimately world-class defender who has balled out against clubs as big as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Jhon Lucumi, Bologna
Talk about overshadowed, Jhon Lucumi wasn’t far off from Riccardo Calafiori in pure defensive ability or importance to Bologna, and while he is a few years older, it’s been interesting to see how relatively little hype the Colombian has received.
Lucumi averaged 1.7 tackles per game for the Rossoblu last season while being dribbled past just 0.3 times per match. The 26-year-old even completed nearly 94 percent of his passes, suiting the Thiago Motta system perfectly.
Marco Friedl, Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen captain Marco Frield is an unknown to the average football fan, but the Austrian international is also one of the best center backs in European football right now and an absolute gem who has the utmost respect of the Werder faithful.
In 2023/24, the 26-year-old averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, and more than 5 clearances per game alongside Bundesliga veteran Niklas Stark to form one of the better defensive partnerships in the German top flight.
Bremen need to do whatever they can to hold onto Frield until he retires and make him the next figurehead of the club, but anyone else in need of a center back in Germany should take a long look at him.
Timo Hubers, FC Koln
Timo Hubers is staying with FC Koln despite their relegation, because he is the captain and standout player of a Billy Goats side that has more talent than your typical 2. Bundesliga outfit.
One of the most active ball-winners in the Bundesliga has averaged at least two interceptions per game in each of his last three Bundesliga seasons, making him a monster in central defense.
At 28, Hubers may actually never get a bigger move in his career because of his commitment and loyalty to Koln, but that might be for the best. Koln have arguably the most special fanbase of any team in a top-five European league/country, and Hubers is entrenching a legacy for himself in the cathedral city.
Alberto Dossena, Monza
Monza picked up Alberto Dossena for less than 10 million euros to put an exclamation mark on their summer transfer window, bringing in an ascending 25-year-old Italian talent before he hits his prime.
That’s a trademark Monza transfer right there. Dossena was one of the best center backs in the Italian top flight last season, smooth on the ball and intelligent with his positioning.
Alexsandro Ribeiro, Lille
Lille like to pride themselves on having a steady defense, and they’ve unearthed a couple of up-and-coming gems, including 21-year-old right back Tiago Santos and 24-year-old center back Alexsandro Ribeiro.
Most fans around the world have probably never heard of Ribeiro, but he’s as solid as they come, something of a throwback to the days gone yore of a big, burly center back who cleans up messes without a fuss and rarely ever misplaces a pass.
Don’t be surprised if, by this time next year, Ribeiro has earned himself a tidy move to a bigger club in the Premier League or even a top LaLiga or Serie A side.
Emmanuel Agbadou, Reims
Another excellent but highly underrated center back in the prime of his career at the age of 27, Emmanuel Agbadou set Ligue 1 ablaze as one half of a very solid center back partnership at Reims alongside another highly underrated player in Joseph Okumu.
Agbadou averaged 2.0 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game for Reims last season, completing a touch over 87 percent of his passes. One of the best on-the-ball center backs in France, Agbadou didn’t just rack up that pass completion percentage with safe balls either.
He can split the lines with the best center backs in Europe, and he showed it on a big stage against PSG. Agbadou is a monster at starting transitions and getting the ball moving with calculated risks as a passer.
Reims have been producing great players over the past couple of seasons, and while Agbadou isn’t a young prospect, his own breakout as a top Ligue 1 center back should not be overlooked.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.