Six of the Best: The top young centre-backs in Europe

A table-topping teenager, a Chelsea loanee, January signing and Barcelona target. The following are the six highest rated players aged 21 or under in Europe to have started at least 10 matches at centre-back this season…

Malang Sarr (Nice) - 6.95 rating

Nice may have surrendered top spot following the return of Ligue 1 action this year but that doesn’t change the fact the Eaglets have enjoyed a remarkable season to date. When the club lost the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Valere Germain and Jeremy Pied in the summer, not to mention manager Claude Puel, most felt that the Cote d’Azur outfit would struggle to replicate last season’s fourth placed finish. Incoming manager Luicen Favre, however, has masterminded a very real assault on a Champions League berth, putting faith in young players.

Centre-back Sarr is the most obvious case in that regard and, having only turned 18 this week, he is the only Nice player to start every single league game this season. It’s an astonishing achievement for a teenager that hadn’t played a single senior game prior to this campaign, with Sarr showing great maturity to seamlessly adapt between regular switches from a back four to back three formation. An ever present in the league’s meanest defence (14 conceded), the youngster’s greatest strengths include his superb distribution, completing the third most passes in Ligue 1 (1341), and reading of the game, having made the second most interceptions (50) of any centre-back.

Andreas Christensen (Gladbach) - 7.00 rating

Given his favoured back three formation, it may seem odd to some that Antonio Conte is persisting with Azpilicueta at centre-back, despite the Spaniard’s commendable displays, rather than looking to add defensive reinforcements. However, having recalled Nathan Ake from loan this month and welcomed Kurt Zouma back into the first team fold, the Italian is better equipped than many give Chelsea credit for. That’s not to mention the fact that 20-year old Andreas Christensen is one of a glut of youngsters out learning his trade on loan.

In the second of a two-year loan spell, the Danish international has made significant strides at a high level for Gladbach, gaining invaluable Champions League experience as well as in a major European league. Like Sarr, the rangy youngster is a very composed and cultured defender given his age, completing a sensational 91.1% of his passes - ranking fourth in the Bundesliga. An impressive 2.6 interceptions per game and 66% aerial success rate are also encouraging figures as far as Blues fans are concerned, along with the fact that the youngster is gaining experience in a back three in his current surrounds.

Clement Lenglet (Sevilla) - 7.05 rating with Nancy

Clearly keen to steal a march on any rivals, prospective or otherwise, Sevilla sealed a deal for Nancy centre-back Lenglet a day before the transfer window had even opened. The 21-year old is among the top defensive prospects in France and joins compatriots and positional rivals Raphael Varane and Aymeric Laporte in Spain’s top tier. He became a mainstay in the Nancy backline last season, helping the club to promotion and a commendable standing at the halfway point in Ligue 1 this time around. With their defence undoubtedly the thing that would most likely derail what currently seems like a realistic title bid, Sampaoli will be hoping Lenglet can make an impact in the here and now.

Having conceded 25 goals this season, Sevilla have relied on clinical finishing to edge out a number of high scoring and entertaining affairs so the youngster has no doubt been signed with a view to making the side more resolute. His impressive reading of the game will be a real asset then, very rarely over committing and waiting for his opponent to make the first move before looking to steal possession. It’s a mature approach that saw Lenglet rank second for tackles (2.5) and interceptions (2.6) per game of all centre-backs in Ligue 1 prior to his departure.

Mouctar Diakhaby (Lyon) - 7.12 rating

When Lyon lost hot prospect Samuel Umtiti to Barcelona in the summer, having also seen the likes of Milan Bisevac and Lindsay Rose leave the club, the defensive ranks took a hit. While Emanuel Mammana was signed from Argentina - subsequently seeing injuries blight his start to life with OL - it turns out there was no great cause for panic. The reason? 20-year old Diakhaby, who only turned that age last month, has made the step up to the first team in hugely impressive fashion, winning the faith of Bruno Genesio to earn 11 league starts as well as four in the Champions League prior to an injury sustained against Caen last week.

To that point the youngster had made a big impression, with his height allowing him to be strong in the air but also to cover ground well. An average of 8.3 clearances per game is enough to share the lead in Ligue 1, while his ability to pass out from the back has made him a ready made replacement for Umtiti. A pass accuracy of 88.8% certainly highlights the fact that he doesn’t merely clear his lines at the first opportunity. With an additional threat from set pieces, from which only Ronny Rodelin has averaged more shots in Ligue 1 (1), Lyon may do well to keep Diakhaby longer than they did Umtiti.

Jerry St. Juste (Heerenveen) - 7.29 rating

Another centre-back who only turned 20 this season, St. Juste has been a regular for Heerenveen for the past 18 months. Part of an incredibly young backline, the Dutchman has already been linked with a move to one of Europe’s higher profile leagues than the Eredivisie having previously been dubbed the ‘Dutch Varane’. His athleticism and composure both with and without the ball gives the comparison some validity, even if it is a little early to suggest he could reach the same level, but St. Juste certainly has the tools to make the next step in his career.

He has scored twice for Heerenveen this season, including a sensational goal against Heracles, and is comfortable breaking forwards from the back, as a statistical strength of dribbling highlights. Elsewhere the youngster ranks third of all centre-backs in Holland’s top-flight for tackles and interceptions per game combined (5.2), while a pass accuracy of 91.4% is enough to place second in the entire league. A senior international call-up for the Netherlands may be just around the corner.

Davinson Sanchez (Ajax) - 7.38 rating

As far as athletic centre-backs are concerned, St. Juste isn’t the only youngster making a name for himself in Holland. Signed from Nacional in the summer, Sanchez has made an immediate impact at Ajax to become a mainstay in the side. To look at him and the physical presence that he offers, you wouldn’t believe he was just 20 and Sanchez has already gained senior international recognition with Colombia. He’s certainly a real handful in the opposition box, with a total of three goals from set pieces something that no other Eredivisie player has bettered this season.

With an impressive 2.5 interceptions per game and the third most accurate passes in the Dutch top-flight (1068), his 89.4% accuracy complements Ajax’s approach perfectly. Having rejected Barcelona in the summer after being told he would only be a part of the B team initially, the blaugrana are thought to be prepared to reignite their interest, suggesting that they now believe he could add something to the first team after an excellent start to life in Amsterdam. Indeed, with a rating of 7.38, Sanchez is not only the highest rated centre-back aged 21 or under in Europe but has also earned a place in WhoScored.com’s Eredivisie team of the season so far.