Joachim Andersen

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

In Fulham's 12th-place Premier League campaign, Joachim Andersen has emerged as the defensive bedrock Marco Silva envisioned when sanctioning a £27m move from Crystal Palace last summer. The 29-year-old Danish international has been ever-present—starting all 15 matches and accumulating 1,302 minutes as the heartbeat of the Cottagers' backline. At 1.92m with commanding aerial presence, Andersen embodies the modern ball-playing centre-back: his 70-rated defending neutralizes threats while his 60-rated passing orchestrates patient build-up play from deep. Partnered with Calvin Bassey, he brings positional discipline and cultured distribution that allows Fulham to transition smoothly from defense to attack. Despite the physical battles of mid-table warfare, he's maintained composure with just one booking and a solitary red card. While goal contributions remain absent—zero goals and assists reflecting his purely defensive mandate—Andersen's value lies in transforming Fulham's rearguard into a platform for progressive football. Valued at €25m and contracted through 2029, this towering Dane represents the long-term stability Craven Cottage needs to cement Premier League permanence.