Bafodé Diakité

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

Bafodé Diakité has quietly become one of the Premier League's most reliable defensive anchors this season, anchoring an AFC Bournemouth side sitting comfortably in 6th place on a DDWWD unbeaten run. The 25-year-old French center-back, valued at €25 million, has made 11 appearances and racked up 945 minutes — a testament to manager Andoni Iraola's trust in his defensive mettle. Wearing the #18 shirt, Diakité brings physical dominance and aerial authority to the Cherries' backline. His 70-rated defending and 65-rated physicality translate to a player who wins headers, marshals the defense, and provides the stability that has Bournemouth punching above their weight. While he hasn't found the scoresheet yet, his 88% starting rate when available speaks volumes — this is a player whose value lies in clean sheets, not highlight reels. Alongside teammates like James Hill and Adrien Truffert, Diakité forms part of a defensive unit that has the Vitality Stadium buzzing with European qualification dreams. Two yellow cards in 11 games suggest discipline to match his robust tackling — exactly what sixth-place ambitions require.