Manchester City paid £116 million for Elliot Anderson this summer — a British record that lasted just days before Morgan Rogers' £117 million move to Chelsea overtook it. Anderson's composite profile explains why City were willing to pay that fee: elite passing, elite work rate, and the defensive contribution of a player who does the unglamorous work that wins midfield battles.
But here's the question Scout52's comparison tool answers: who else in the Premier League has a statistically similar profile? If you wanted an Anderson-type player without the £116 million price tag, where would you look?
The answer, according to Scout52's algorithm, is Anton Stach at Leeds United.
The Composite Comparison
Scout52's comparison tool analyses all six composite metrics to identify the player with the most similar statistical profile. When you run Anderson's composites through the system, Stach emerges as the closest match in the Premier League. Here's why:
| Composite | Anderson | Stach | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defensive | 5.69 (Elite) | 4.26 (Average) | Anderson |
| Chance Creation | 3.29 (Average) | 4.62 (Elite) | Stach |
| Goal Threat | 4.13 (Average) | 5.42 (Average) | Stach |
| Ball Carry | 5.85 (Good) | 3.87 (Below Avg) | Anderson |
| Passing | 9.40 (Elite) | 9.16 (Elite) | Close |
| Work Rate | 9.88 (Elite) | 8.35 (Average) | Anderson |
The common thread is immediately visible: both players share elite-level passing composites (9.40 vs 9.16) and strong work rate profiles. That passing convergence — both graded Elite, separated by just 0.24 — is likely the primary driver behind Scout52's algorithm flagging them as the closest match.
Where they diverge tells the tactical story. Anderson's numbers skew deeper: higher Defensive composite (5.69 vs 4.26), higher Ball Carry (5.85 vs 3.87), higher Work Rate (9.88 vs 8.35). Stach's profile leans more advanced: higher Chance Creation (4.62 vs 3.29) and higher Goal Threat (5.42 vs 4.13).
The archetype difference captures it perfectly. Anderson is classified as an Elite Anchor 6 — a deep-lying midfielder who controls the game through passing and defensive work. Stach is an Elite Box-to-Box — a midfielder who covers the full pitch with more attacking end product. Similar engines, different deployments.
Elliot Anderson: The £116m Profile
Elliot Anderson
3,334 minutes across 38 Premier League matchdays in 2025/26 for Nottingham Forest. Per-90 output: 0.11 goals, 0.11 assists, 3.89 tackles + interceptions. 55% duel win rate, 55% dribble success. Rating: 7.35.
Anderson's value to Man City lies in what the composites confirm: he does everything. Elite passing (9.40), elite work rate (9.88), elite defensive contribution (5.69), good ball carrying (5.85). He wins the ball back, progresses it through midfield, and distributes with precision. That completeness is what commands £116 million.
His emergence as one of the Premier League's best midfielders — from Newcastle academy reject to British transfer record — mirrors the kind of development trajectory that composite data helps identify early. The raw talent was visible at Newcastle. The consistency emerged at Forest. The composites confirmed it.
Anton Stach: The Closest Match
Anton Stach
2,378 minutes across 29 appearances for Leeds United in 2025/26. Per-90 output: 0.19 goals, 0.11 assists, 3.22 tackles + interceptions. 53% duel win rate, 48% dribble success. Rating: 7.15.
Stach arrived at Leeds from Hoffenheim in July 2025 and immediately established himself as a key midfielder, contributing 5 goals and 3 assists from 29 appearances. His S52 score of 7.22 places him firmly in the elite bracket for Tier 1 midfielders, where the top-tier average sits at 8.8 and the rest average 4.5.
Why Stach Profiles Differently
While the passing convergence with Anderson is clear, Stach's composite profile tells a story of a more attack-minded midfielder:
- Chance Creation 4.62 (Elite): Ranked in the top 10% of prime-age midfielders. He creates from central areas with 2.38 key passes per 90 — significantly more than Anderson's 1.48
- Goal Threat 5.42: 0.19 goals per 90 from midfield, with 45% shot accuracy. He arrives late in the box more effectively than Anderson (0.11 goals per 90)
- Passing 9.16 (Elite): Also in the top 10% for his age band. The near-identical passing composites are what make this comparison work
- Work Rate 8.35: Lower than Anderson's elite 9.88, but still a strong contributor who covers ground consistently
Consistency and Form
Stach's form trajectory is labelled "Stable" by Scout52 — he rated 7.2 in his final season at Hoffenheim (2023/24) and 7.2 again in his first season at Leeds. That consistency across a club move, a league change, and a new tactical system suggests his output is self-generated rather than system-dependent.
His last five matches showed a 7.38 average — trending above his season average of 7.15 — and his home/away differential is negligible (7.47 vs 7.42). He performs consistently regardless of context.
Discipline
Stach is notably cleaner than Anderson in terms of cards: 3 yellows (0.11 per 90) versus Anderson's 8 yellows (0.22 per 90). Both are red-card free. For a midfielder competing in the same physical duels, Stach's lower card rate suggests either better timing in challenges or a less aggressive defensive approach — consistent with his more attack-oriented composite profile.
The Value Question
Scout52's valuation model estimates Stach's market value at €58-78.5 million (high confidence), based on comparable transfers including Moisés Caicedo (€116m), Enzo Fernández (€121m), and Dominik Szoboszlai (€70m).
At 27, Stach is in his prime years. At an estimated €58-78.5 million, he costs roughly half what Man City paid for Anderson. The question for clubs looking for Anderson-type midfield quality isn't whether Stach is as good — the composites show he's close but different in emphasis — it's whether his specific profile (more creative, less defensive) fits their tactical needs at a significantly lower price point.
Should Stach Be on Your Radar?
For clubs in the market for a creative, elite-passing midfielder who contributes goals and assists from central areas, Stach's composite profile is difficult to ignore.
He won't replicate Anderson's defensive anchor role — his Defensive composite (4.26) is significantly lower than Anderson's (5.69). But if you need the passing engine and want more attacking output, Stach's Chance Creation (4.62, Elite) and Goal Threat (5.42) exceed Anderson's numbers in both categories.
At 27 and with a stable performance trajectory across club changes, Stach profiles as a player who delivers immediately rather than one who needs development time. His Premier League adaptation has already happened — 29 appearances, 5 goals, 3 assists, 7.22 S52 score in his first English season.
The transfer window is open. The data is clear. And Scout52's algorithm has identified him as the closest statistical match to a £116 million player.
Find Similar Players Yourself
Scout52's comparison tool identifies the closest statistical matches for any player in the database. Search any Premier League midfielder, view their composite profile, and see who the algorithm flags as their nearest match. The same tool that identified the Anderson-Stach connection can find similar-profile players across 9,600+ players in the system.