Jozhua Vertrouwd

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

At 18th in La Liga, Rayo Vallecano are staring down the barrel of relegation, their season hanging by a thread with results refusing to turn their way. In this climate of desperation, 21-year-old Dutch defender Jozhua Vertrouwd represents both present hope and future investment. Despite just a single senior appearance (90 minutes of action) and modest season stats (0 goals, 0 assists), his €3,000,000 market value signals belief in his potential. With a 'defensive anchor' playstyle and aerial dominance as his calling card, Vertrouwd offers exactly what a struggling backline needs: physical presence and positional discipline. While teammates like Jorge de Frutos (75 rating) carry the attacking burden, Vertrouwd's developing profile—anchored by 55 defending and 55 physical stats—suggests he's being groomed for bigger responsibilities. In a relegation dogfight where every point matters, the question isn't if this young Dutchman will get his chance, but when.