Mats Wieffer

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

In a season where US Lecce find themselves precariously anchored in 17th place—desperately clinging to survival after a bruising run that has seen them claim just one point from their last five matches—Dutch defensive midfielder Mats Wieffer has emerged as an unlikely beacon of calculated hope. The 25-year-old Netherlands international arrived from Feyenoord this summer for a substantial €30m fee, and despite the Giallorossi's collective struggles, his market value has held firm at €27m. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker alongside Lassana Coulibaly, Wieffer has already racked up 18 appearances, wearing the number 27 shirt with distinction. His numbers tell a compelling story for a defensive midfielder: while yet to open his goal account, he has delivered five assists from deep—an impressive creative return that showcases his exceptional 70-rated passing ability. Those seven yellow cards reveal the competitive bite in his game, yet his true value lies in transitional control and ball retention, providing rare stability in a chaotic campaign. In a side starved of consistency, Wieffer represents exactly the kind of progressive pivot that can orchestrate survival.