Mattéo Guendouzi

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

In the white and sky blue of Lazio, Mattéo Guendouzi has become the relentless pulse of a midfield fighting to restore Roman pride. With the Biancoceleste sitting 8th in Serie A amid an inconsistent run of form, the Frenchman's €28M valuation reflects a player in his prime at 26—ever-present, ever-running. Across 24 appearances and 2,042 minutes, Guendouzi has contributed 3 goals and an assist, numbers that tell only part of the story. His true value lies in the invisible work: the pressing, the recovering, the linking of Taty Castellanos' attacking forays with a backline anchored by Mario Gila. Under Marco Baroni, he's evolved into the complete box-to-box operator, maintaining remarkable discipline with just three yellow cards and no suspensions. The former Arsenal prodigy, once exiled from North London for his fiery temperament, has found sanctuary—and maturity—in Rome. His 71-rated passing and tireless work rate have kept Lazio within touching distance of European places, even as results have fluctuated. In a season of uncertainty at the Stadio Olimpico, Guendouzi's reliability remains the one constant.