He’s playing like Van Dijk & Gabriel: Spurs may rue losing “monstrous” star for £0
Tottenham Hotspur has faced numerous challenges this season, but injuries, particularly in the defensive line, have been the most significant.
While the absence of players like Dominic Solanke is less than ideal, Spurs have still managed to maintain one of the highest goal tallies in the Premier League.
However, long-term injuries to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have forced Ange Postecoglou to rely on a mix of inexperienced and makeshift options, including 18-year-old Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, and Kevin Danso.
This defensive instability has impacted the team’s performance both domestically and in European competitions, leaving the club possibly regretting the loss of an experienced center-back who has drawn comparisons to elite defenders like Virgil van Dijk and Gabriel Magalhães.
During Postecoglou’s first winter transfer window, several players departed, including former club captain Hugo Lloris.
The World Cup-winning goalkeeper, who made 447 appearances for Tottenham over 11 and a half years, moved to LAFC on a free transfer on January 31, 2024. Since joining Major League Soccer, Lloris has played 50 matches and helped his team win the US Open Cup, securing a 3-1 victory over Kansas City in extra time.
Meanwhile, Japhet Tanganga, another former Spurs defender, left for Millwall on loan before making the move permanent in the summer. Although he has settled into his new club, he endured a difficult outing against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, where he scored an own goal and inadvertently assisted Daniel Muñoz’s strike.
Among the various players who left Tottenham last January, one particular defender has managed to revive his career and has been compared to Van Dijk and Gabriel.
While players like Sergio Reguilón, Ashley Phillips, and Djed Spence all secured loan moves, Eric Dier left in a more significant transfer. After spending nine years with Spurs, Dier departed for Bayern Munich in a move that initially started as a short-term loan but was later extended to cover the current season.
Towards the end of his time at Tottenham, many no longer considered him a top-class defender. However, under Thomas Tuchel last season and, to some extent, Vincent Kompany this year, the 31-year-old has proven that he can still be a valuable asset for a top European club.
Dier has made 35 appearances for Bayern Munich, playing a role in their efforts to reclaim the Bundesliga title from Bayer Leverkusen. His performances have drawn comparisons to Gabriel and Van Dijk, particularly based on data analysis from FBref.
The platform evaluates players across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League over the last 365 days, identifying similar players based on statistical performance.
According to these metrics, Gabriel was the sixth-most similar center-back to Dier in last season’s Champions League, while Van Dijk ranked as the seventh-most comparable player over the past year.
A closer look at the underlying numbers highlights Dier’s similarities to these top defenders. The table below presents key statistics per 90 minutes, showing how Dier, Van Dijk, and Gabriel have performed in key defensive and passing metrics.
| Statistic | Dier | Van Dijk | Gabriel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Penalty Expected Goals | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Passing Accuracy | 91.8% | 91.7% | 89.6% |
| Expected Assists | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Through Balls | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Tackles | 1.15 | 1.05 | 1.14 |
| Errors Leading to Goals | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Successful Take-Ons | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.08 |
These numbers illustrate that Dier has been statistically comparable to elite defenders in several areas, particularly in passing accuracy, tackling, and expected assists. While no one is suggesting that Dier is at the same level as Van Dijk or Gabriel, the similarities indicate that he has rediscovered his form in Germany.
Given Tottenham’s defensive struggles this season, Postecoglou may be left wondering whether Dier’s departure was premature. With Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero missing for large parts of the season, Spurs have lacked an experienced center-back to stabilize the backline.
While the club’s decision to part ways with Dier was likely based on his declining form at the time, his resurgence at Bayern Munich suggests that he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
As Tottenham continues to battle through an injury-plagued campaign, defensive reinforcements will likely be a priority in the next transfer window.
The club must learn from this season’s challenges and ensure they have the necessary squad depth to compete on multiple fronts. While Dier’s time at Spurs may be over, his revival in Germany serves as a reminder of how quickly a player’s fortunes can change under the right circumstances.