Odilon Kossounou

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

Atalanta BC have steadied the ship in 7th place, riding a resurgent wave of back-to-back victories after a patchy spell. At the fortress heart of this revival stands Odilon Kossounou, the 24-year-old Ivorian centre-back whose towering 6'3" frame has become the bedrock of Gian Piero Gasperini's system. With 24 appearances and 1,567 minutes under his belt this season, Kossounou has been ever-present—missing just a handful of minutes while marshalling a defense that has allowed creative talents like Éderson and Bilal El Khannouss to flourish ahead of him. His solitary goal barely scratches the surface of his impact; it's the discipline that truly stands out—one measly yellow card across a relentless campaign of aerial duels and last-ditch interventions. Valued at €25 million and armed with 70-rated defensive attributes, Kossounou isn't just stopping attacks with his aerial dominance and calculated positioning—he's enabling Atalanta's entire identity. In a squad boasting attacking firepower through Scamacca, Piccoli and Krstović, the Ivorian colossus provides the defensive certainty that makes the Bergamaschi tick.