Mikel Oyarzabal

Key strength: Finishing

Clinical finisher

In a season of fluctuating fortunes for Real Sociedad, hovering in 8th place and searching for consistency, captain Mikel Oyarzabal remains the one constant beacon of hope at the Anoeta. The 28-year-old Spanish centre-forward has shouldered the goalscoring burden with characteristic poise, delivering 10 goals and 3 assists across 23 appearances—a goal contribution nearly every other match. With 1,967 minutes of relentless industry, Oyarzabal's clinical finishing (78 shooting rating) has proven the difference in tight contests, complementing the creative flair of teammate Takefusa Kubo on the right flank. Valued at €25 million, the Basque talisman represents both the present and future of this squad. When Imanol Alguacil needs a moment of magic, it's Oyarzabal's composure under pressure that Sociedad turn to, his left-footed precision cutting through defenses with surgical efficiency. At his peak age of 28, with an 80 overall rating, Oyarzabal isn't just scoring goals—he's carrying the hopes of a club desperate to reclaim European football.