AS
Anton Stach
Defensive Midfield / Germany / Leeds United
65 OVR
Profile
Key strength: Ball retention
Deep-lying playmaker
In a Leeds United campaign languishing at 15th in the Championship—adrift from the promotion race they covet—Anton Stach has emerged as the rare beacon of hope at Elland Road. The 27-year-old German defensive midfielder, secured for €20 million from Hoffenheim last summer, has vindicated that hefty outlay with remarkable attacking returns for a deep-lying operator: 4 goals and 3 assists from 31 appearances this season. Standing at 1.94m with metronomic 70-rated passing ability, Stach has become the pulse of this faltering Leeds side. His partnership with Ethan Ampadu in a rugged double pivot offers their only genuine route from defense to attack, with Stach's exceptional ball retention proving invaluable during a turbulent LWDWD run. Worth €28 million on today's market—an €8m appreciation—the midfielder has maintained admirable discipline with zero cards across 2,220 minutes of action. While Leeds remain mired in an unexpected relegation scrap, Stach's individual quality suggests he may already be destined for brighter horizons.