MV
Mikel Vesga
Defensive Midfield / Spain / Athletic Bilbao
42 OVR
Profile
Key strength: Ball retention
Deep-lying playmaker
Sitting 10th in La Liga, Athletic Bilbao are navigating a transitional season under Ernesto Valverde, and at the heart of their midfield sits the understated Mikel Vesga. The 32-year-old Basque defensive midfielder has been ever-present this campaign, featuring in all 10 matches and accumulating 810 minutes of action. While his stat sheet shows zero goals and zero assists, Vesga's true worth lies in the shadows he creates for others. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker, he provides the metronomic ball retention that allows stars like Nico Williams (83 rating), Oihan Sancet (80 rating), and Iñaki Williams to flourish ahead of him. With a €2.5 million market value that belies his importance, Vesga brings the kind of positional discipline and composure that wins coaches' trust but rarely grabs headlines. Since returning from Leganés in 2017, the Athletic academy product has grown into a reliable figure in Valverde's system - proof that in modern football, influence doesn't always require glory.