Stats: Which U21 players have been used the most by European clubs this season?
The top 5 European leagues are well into the seventh month of their respective league seasons and every league has seen at least 22 games of action. France’s Ligue 1 has already seen 27 matches played while the smaller German Bundesliga with just 18 teams has seen the least with 22 games played so far.
In the past few months, a number of sides across Europe have used U21 players in their squads and starting lineups over the course of the season. Whether they develop their youth players or sign them from other clubs, teams have focused on the future and are doing what they can to nurture the world-class talents of the future.
Keeping that in mind, 20-year-old Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule has played each and every minute in the league this season. While the Bundesliga club are not doing too well this season, down in 17th place, Sule has been one of three defenders to average six or more clearances per game.
Another Bundesliga player who has played every minute of every game this season is Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah. The 20-year-old has been instrumental in Leverkusen’s back-line as they attempt to finish third behind Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Tah averages 3.4 interceptions per game – one of the highest in the league.
Arsenal’s 20-year-old right-back Hector Bellerin has come a long way since breaking into the first team last season. Of the 26 games the Gunners have played in the league this season, Bellerin has played in 24 – 92.3% of the maximum 2340 minutes. Bellerin is so crucial to Arsene Wenger’s attacking philosophy that he is rested for domestic cup ties – games where the youngsters are usually given a chance to impress.
21-year-old AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli is fourth on the list having played 23 of the 26 games. The only other player to have played more minutes than him is forward Carlos Bacca.
Fifth on the list is Manchester United’s summer signing Anthony Martial. Now 20, he was the most expensive teenager in football history when he made the switch from AS Monaco to Old Trafford.
Other notable players outside the Top 10 include Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez (12th), Sporting Gijon’s Barcelona loanee Alen Halilovic (18th) and Tottenham Hotspur’s newest star Dele Alli (21st). Among goalkeepers, AC Milan’s 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma leads the way having played in 68% of the San Siro club’s games this season.
| # | Player | Position | Team | Percentage of Total Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niklas Sule | Centre-Back | Hoffenheim | 100% |
| Jonathan Tah | Centre-Back | Bayer Leverkusen | 100% | |
| 3 | Hector Bellerin | Right-Back | Arsenal | 92.3% |
| 4 | Alessio Romagnoli | Centre-Back | AC Milan | 89.9% |
| 5 | Anthony Martial | Forward | Monaco & Man Utd | 89.6% |
| 6 | Andreas Christensen | Centre-Back | Borussia M’gladbach | 85.7% |
| 7 | Leon Goretzka | Midfielder | Schalke 04 | 82.5% |
| 8 | Isaac Success | Forward | Granada | 81.8% |
| 9 | Amadou Diawara | Midfielder | Bologna | 81.2% |
| 10 | Julian Weigl | Midfielder | Borussia Dortmund | 81% |
Note: Only players born after 1 January 1995 have been included