Analysing Europe’s biggest transfers with Kognia’s new recruitment dashboard

In his latest Kognia analysis, Senior Data Scientist Rory Tapper applies Kognia tactical data to some of this summer's major transfers, and introduces a new recruitment-focused dashboard from Kognia.

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So, here we are again.

Despite the scorching heatwaves that continue to grip Europe throughout this extraordinary Summer, we once again find ourselves on the cusp of a fresh domestic season. In a World Cup year the short break often evokes familiar feelings of ‘already?!?’ for many fans, with the dust having barely settled on Spain’s domineering trophy win to deny Messi the perfect ending to his colossal international career. But for coaches, analysts & sporting directors embedded in football’s relentless hamster wheel preparation will have begun in earnest the moment their season ended in May - and most likely earlier.

As clubs become increasingly data savvy, there is now a necessity to be over-prepared for an impending window, such is the demand and competition between clubs for the best and brightest talent across the globe. Having a data driven approach no longer gets you ahead on its own, but is now seen as the baseline for a professional outfit. To find an edge in 2026, clubs often need to dig deeper & faster to find the hidden gem before their rivals.

This article will explore how by using Kognia’s bespoke tactical data teams can identify replacements that are perfect for the team’s tactical set up and stylistic vision. Kognia has developed a recruitment platform which allows clubs to pinpoint the ideal candidate to bolster their ranks, assessing player suitability and capability simultaneously. Through the lens of some of this summer’s biggest deals, we will demonstrate how Kognia data can distinguish the key technical details required to uncover the perfect replacement.

Breakdown

One absorbing aspect from the transfers noted below is drawn from the managerial merry-go-round we have all come accustomed to in football. Iraola, Maresca, Alonso & Mourinho are all fresh incumbents - how they build the team in their image will be fascinating. This deep dive explores what that might look like based on their marquee signings.

Yan Diomande

Diomande's main traits centre on his dribbling & chance creation. He can attack from both flanks, as shown in our positional breakdown, but will likely be deployed on the right.

With Rodrygo suffering a season ending ACL tear in March 2026 that will lead to a lengthy layoff, Real Madrid did what they always do - scoured the transfer market and bought big. They rarely dine anywhere other than the top table. A high level overview of the players tells us that while there are similarities in where they line up on the pitch, both offer a different set of skills.

Rodrygo is the finisher more often, taking a healthy amount of shots, but Diomande is an upgrade on conversion and end product, especially after a profligate season on Rodrygo’s end. Neither is particularly adept at crossing but this is unsurprising, it is not the manner in which Real will look to attack. Rather, their attack is made up of fast, tricky players who will look to move at pace.

Rodrygo makes more runs into the box and drops deep to receive more, but they receive in the box a similar amount. Diomande, by contrast, receives a lot more when he runs in behind. This could be due to him being the focal point for Leipzig, but it will be interesting to see how he adapts with Vinicius and Mbappe as strike partners - their ability demands they receive the ball. Both have been the focal point for Madrid over the last few years but will be aware that success has not matched the Madridista expectation. The signing of Diomande adds another string to Mourinho’s bow. We can see Diomande’s run profile from the dashboard shot below.

We can see from Rodrygo’s profile below that the runs they make have similarities, but Rodrygo is used more as a decoy, whereas Diomande receives more - and there are some disparities; Rodrygo receives between the lines more, Diomande thrives off 1-2s.

Diomande will likely hug the touchline, staying high and wide to use his dribbling ability. This has the added bonus of creating space inside for Alexander-Arnold to utilise his passing armoury. Alternatively, the signing of Dumfries may offer an alternative approach as he looks to make his signature bursting runs beyond the front line, offering a different angle of attack.

One thing is for sure - Real Madrid’s front line will not be boring.

Marco Palestra

Xabi Alonso will be hoping Palestra can replicate Frimpong’s impact in Leverkusen’s invincible season in his first season in charge at Chelsea. Both have the same primary characteristic fit according to an algorithm developed by Kognia to identify a player’s best positional role, fitting into systems best as “All-Action” FB/WBs who provide key interventions at both ends of the pitch.

They have an 89% style similarity score and Alonso’s preferred wing back heavy system likely means whoever starts on each wing will be key to Chelsea’s season. He will be hoping for much out of Palestra and also new signing on the opposite flank, Pep Chavarria, who was analysed by Kognia in this recent article.

Frimpong has struggled in the Premier League, but has largely been either used in a back four or as a winger. He thrived as a RWB in Alonso’s system and analysing Palestra shows he has many of the same qualities. Alonso may well hope he can get the best out of the former Cagliari starlet using a similar approach. Both like to situate themselves far forward, with Frimpong almost positioned as a winger - albeit while playing for teams situated higher up the table, with more demands on attacking.

Their strengths lie in attacking runs, carrying in the opposition half and attacking the box, with crosses and specifically cutbacks often their weapon of choice.

Both show weaknesses defensively. Frimpong produced respectable recovery stats last year, using his speed to win the ball higher up the pitch despite not always looking comfortable at right back.

Palestra, by contrast, was tasked more readily with tracking runs behind Cagliari’s defensive line.

Frimpong was also strong on ground duels (P94 rank v Prem FBs) and defending well against the 1-2 to deny the opposition (below) - something Palestra will need to work on in the Premier League. Both are weak aerially, and opponents may target them here.

Palestra is young and therefore may not be expected to make an instant impact, but Alonso has shown that he can get the best out of young talent before, Palestra could be the next to benefit.

Maxence Lacroix

Lacroix is a dominant centre back who looks to step out proactively and progress the ball. He has the contingency of good pace for a centre back to help him get to the ball fast and also return to his defensive position. His average engagement speed to ground duels of 4.4m/s puts him in the 88th percentile against Premier League centre backs.

This represents a change in style to Chalobah, whose strengths lie in his versatility and ability to make defensive recoveries. With a strong reading of the game and timing in the tackle, he ranks very highly for recoveries and interceptions, snuffing out opposition danger thanks to his positioning. Chalobah makes his mark higher up the pitch, ranking amongst the top defenders for middle & attacking third recoveries.

By contrast, Lacroix’s on-ball proficiency is a notable upgrade for Chelsea as our possession-adjusted comparison shows.

This transfer marks a departure from previous regimes, with an immediate nod towards the front foot rather than reactive, defensive style - allowing Chelsea to build from the back. In possession, Lacroix is the more reliable ball progressor. He demonstrates greater proficiency for line-breaking passes in tandem with an ability to play out, even under pressure, that Chalobah rarely exhibits.

In turn, Lacroix is able to pivot the game from defence to attack with faster passes over longer distances, finding players under less pressure than Lacroix in a more advanced position. He ranks highly for these metrics against other centr backs.

One trade-off Chelsea will need to be wary of when making this change is the drop in Marking & Box defence capabilities. Their marking style is markedly different; Chalobah is one of the loosest markers in the league, allowing opponents space and relying on recovery speed to make ball contact. Lacroix marks slightly more conventionally for a centre back. Despite this, Chalobah is more likely to make contact with the ball than Lacroix when marking in the box.

Chalobah:

Lacroix:

Chalobah proved himself a strong squad player under past iterations of this Chelsea team, but Lacroix’s signing is the biggest indicator yet of Alonso putting his own stamp of authority on the squad.

Victor Muñoz

With Salah now plying his trade at Trabzonspor, Liverpool have a big hole to fill in the front line. Perhaps not a direct replacement for him on the right wing, Muñoz’s signing typifies the change in tact under Iraola. At his peak under Klopp, Salah was a goalscoring machine capable of high-intensity bursts which terrorised opposition defenders. Towards the end of his Liverpool career he relied much more on his positional nous and finishing ability. Iraola’s Bournemouth ranked top two in the Premier League for sprints in all three of his Premier League seasons and he will undoubtedly look to recreate this fervor in front of the Anfield crowd.

Muñoz’s minutes spanned both wings at Osasuna, but he actually played more on the left than the right.

Regardless, his signing is likely an attempt to bring the best out of Liverpool’s two marquee signings last summer, Wirtz and Isak. He makes an abundance of runs in behind, rather than receiving in the half spaces, stretching defences and opening up space in between the lines for Wirtz and Isak to showcase their talents. His runs tend to be direct, rather than running out-to-in, but he varies the depth of his starting point to keep defenders on their toes.

In terms of attacking the box, Muñoz is much more of a creator than a finisher relative to Salah. He was one of the leading LaLiga crossers of the ball, with cutbacks a major part of his arsenal. Whereas Salah capitalises on defensive line imbalances using off-ball runs into the box to create space for himself before maneuvering the ball into a position to shoot, Munoz leverages his searing pace and innate ability to beat a man to find space, before either shooting or more often crossing.

Muñoz isn’t known for his defensive skills, but his physical metrics are an improvement on Salah and will augment Iraola’s physical model. He competes far more in ground duels and is more inclined to track runners too.

Muñoz:

Salah:

Replacing a Liverpool great with a rap sheet as intimidating as Salah’s will never be an easy task, but the new set up may allow the team to shine above the individual.

Nathaniel Brown

Alphonso Davies’ season was cut brutally short by an ACL tear which ruled him out for much of the season, and left him playing a bit part role at Canada’s home World Cup. For a player who relies heavily on his pace, this injury was a serious blow. The signing of Nathaniel Brown was an indication that Bayern have started looking for contingencies. In a dream world, Davies comes back and only loses a fraction of his speed. But this purchase allows for both tactical flexibility and a quality alternative.

Bayern have identified a player with solidity in addition to attacking flair, but for a team who force opponents to play on their terms, having a player in Brown whose defensive positioning aides regaining possession rather than speed of recovery could give Bayern an extra foothold to regain the ball high up the pitch and build even more sustained pressure. When comparing differentiating metrics, it becomes apparent that Brown has higher defensive levels to Davies, whose stand out traits are built on physicality and movement. For example, Davies tends to run in behind the backline more often.

True to form and an illustration of Kompany’s preference of working the ball into the box, neither tends to attack the box with crosses. Illustrated by a breakdown of Brown’s crosses:

They are big shoes to fill, but Brown has shown in all facets of his career so far that he is not scared of the next level. Munich beckons.

To finish…

This article has analysed five signings, providing five glimpses into how teams will seek to approach the new season. Time will tell if these tactical alterations provide the clubs with a springboard to a brighter future.

Get in touch to learn more about Kognia's new recruitment dashboard