Federico Redondo

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

In 9th place and navigating choppy waters with a DWLDL run, Elche CF have found an unlikely anchor in 22-year-old Argentine Federico Redondo. The €6.5 million-rated defensive midfielder has quietly become the metronome of their La Liga campaign—13 appearances and 571 minutes into his debut season, he's already demonstrating the composure that justifies that valuation. While his stat line shows 1 goal and 0 assists, Redondo's true currency is control: a 58 passing rating, zero cards in 13 matches, and a discipline that allows higher-rated talents like Santiago Castro (63) and Gerard Moreno (60) to flourish ahead of him. Operating as the pivot between defense and attack, this deep-lying playmaker provides the possession security Elche desperately needs. In a league that devours young midfielders, Redondo's ball retention and maturity are keeping Elche steady in the mid-table currents—a 22-year-old Argentine anchoring something special in the making.