SB
Sven Botman
Centre-Back / Netherlands / Newcastle United
65 OVR
Profile
Key strength: Aerial dominance
Defensive anchor
In a Newcastle United side languishing in 14th place with a volatile LWDWL run, Dutch centre-back Sven Botman stands as Eddie Howe's unwavering defensive cornerstone. The 26-year-old, valued at €35 million, has been virtually ever-present this season—amassing 2,242 minutes across 30 appearances while wearing the iconic number 4 shirt. While his attacking teammates capture headlines, it's Botman's stabilizing presence that prevents complete defensive collapse at St James' Park. His imposing aerial dominance has already yielded 2 goals and 1 assist from set-piece situations. Remarkably amid the pressure cooker atmosphere, Botman has maintained exceptional discipline with just 2 yellow cards all campaign. In a season where consistency is gold dust, this €35 million colossus carries the weight of Newcastle's survival hopes on his broad shoulders—proving that sometimes the most valuable players are those who simply refuse to break.