Santiago Bueno

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Ball-playing defender

At the bottom of the Premier League table in 21st position, Wolverhampton Wanderers are fighting for survival—and in Santiago Bueno, they have found a defensive anchor worth clinging to. The 27-year-old Uruguayan centre-back has been a rare beacon of consistency during a turbulent campaign, racking up 28 appearances and logging over 2,400 minutes of battle-hardened experience. Bueno's contribution extends far beyond the defensive third. With 3 goals and 2 assists this season, the €10 million-rated defender has proven himself a genuine threat from set-pieces and a confident initiator of attacks. His 65 defending and 60 physicality FIFA ratings only tell part of the story—the 1.90m stopper combines aerial dominance with composed distribution, making him the prototype of the modern ball-playing centre-back. Wearing the number 4 shirt, Bueno has emerged as a key figure in a crowded defensive rotation that includes Krejčí and Agbadou. After a brutal run of three consecutive defeats, Wolves finally stopped the rot with a draw and a vital win—form reading LLLDW—and Bueno's steadying presence at the back has been instrumental in that resurgence. For a club desperate for points, his ability to blend defensive solidity with unexpected attacking returns may yet prove the difference between Championship football and another season among the elite.