Mitchel Bakker

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

Mitchel Bakker finds himself in a transitional chapter at Atalanta BC, where La Dea currently sits 7th in the standings. The 25-year-old Dutch midfielder arrived with a modest €4 million valuation and a box-to-box pedigree built on relentless work rate rather than flash. With just one appearance under his belt—a full 90-minute shift that showcased his engine—Bakker is still earning Gasperini's trust in a squad stacked with attacking talent like Raspadori (80) and Scamacca (80). While the goal and assist columns remain blank, his 50-rated profile suggests a different currency: tactical discipline and midfield coverage. As Atalanta push for European qualification from their mid-table perch, Bakker's role may evolve from squad depth to genuine rotation option, particularly given his willingness to cover ground and link play between Atalanta's dynamic forwards and their defensive spine. For now, he's the patient project—a player whose value lies in the intangibles, waiting for his moment in Bergamo's demanding system.