Europe's Elite Ball-Carriers: Diomande Joins Liverpool Star in Top 10 Dribbling Rankings

Liverpool stand on the brink of assembling a genuinely frightening attacking force should they secure Yan Diomande's signature this summer. The RB Leipzig teenager is primed to become the subject of a fierce transfer tussle, yet the Reds remain the bookmakers' favourites—even if Diomande hasn't quite pencilled Merseyside as his ultimate destination.

The 19-year-old has already carved out a reputation as one of continental Europe's most dangerous ball-carriers. According to analysis from Gradient Sports, which grades players across execution and outcome metrics, Diomande currently sits second among Europe's elite dribblers.

Should Liverpool land their man, they'd possess two of the top ten dribbling talents plying their trade across the continent's premier competitions.

The Dribbling Elite

10. Mason Greenwood (Marseille) – 85.1

Greenwood remains a thoroughly talented footballer. The concern has never been his quality on the pitch.

9. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG) – 85.8

The Georgian winger is arguably the marquee name everyone would covet, notwithstanding Diomande's current desirability. Ligue 1 offers no superior dribbler at converting attempts into genuinely threatening positions.

8. Amad Diallo (Manchester United) – 86.3

The Red Devils winger ranks alongside Jack Grealish and Cody Gakpo (the Premier League's highest-ranked dribbler in February) for completing dribbles. Whether he justifies a regular starting berth remains debatable.

7. Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) – 87.4

Wirtz doesn't feature prominently in dribble-attempt statistics, yet no English top-flight winger or attacking midfielder boasts a superior completion rate relative to expected performance.

6. Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis) – 87.8

Roma explored acquiring Ezzalzouli as a successor to their leading wide player, with Crystal Palace also monitoring the Moroccan's availability. The 2023 Barcelona departure to Betis for £7million included buyback clauses for the subsequent two transfer windows, though the Camp Nou hierarchy opted against exercising them on a player Xavi once labelled "extraordinary."

5. Jean-Luc Dompe (Hamburg) – 88.5

The 30-year-old Bundesliga performer has converted 74% of his dribbling attempts for Hamburg—though his recent off-field incidents, including a drink-driving charge and a subsequent e-scooter exit from the police station, rather overshadow his technical accomplishments.

4. Jonathan Rowe (Bologna) – 89.1

The England Under-21 international is turning heads in Serie A and the Europa League, including a notable Europa League quarter-final display against Villa. The winger's combative edge—reportedly demonstrated during a tussle with Adrien Rabiot that precipitated his Marseille departure—adds another dimension to his game. Fresh interest from bigger clubs appears inevitable.

3. Julio Enciso (Strasbourg) – 91.2

Enciso arrived at Strasbourg on a four-year deal from Brighton last summer, yet a move to Chelsea seems merely a matter of time should his current trajectory continue. His performances have already displaced Kvaratskhelia from second spot in the Ligue 1 rankings.

2. Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig) – 91.7

Only four players across Europe's top five leagues—Jeremy Doku, Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Jr, and Victor Munoz—have attempted more dribbles than the Leipzig teenager. Yet Diomande's completion rate surpasses all four. Within the Bundesliga itself, only Dompe and Harry Kane boast superior ratios, though neither has attempted anything approaching Diomande's volume.

1. Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan) – 96.0

Bologna probably harbour regrets over missing the chance to permanently sign Saelemaekers for under £8million following his 2023-24 loan spell. The Belgian subsequently spent a year at Roma before finally establishing himself with Milan, subsequently penning a five-year contract extension. Saelemaekers has completed the second-highest dribble count in Serie A whilst leading the division in dribbles executed above statistical expectation.