Matteo Palma

Matteo Palma

Country: Germany/Italy

Date of birth: 13/03/2008 (16 years old)

Place of birth: Berlin (Germany)

Height: 194cm

Youth career: Hertha, Udinese (since 2022)

Current club: Udinese

Squad number: 16

Current national team: Germany U-17

Position: central defender, right-back

Preferred foot: right

Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 1M€

Tournaments participated in: —

Contract until: 30.06.2027

Player’s agent: unknown

Transfer rumours: —

Similar type of player: Niklas Süle/Nikola Milenković

Strengths:

– anticipation 

– positioning 

– aerial duels 

– physicality 

– passing 

– technique 

– tackling 

– concentration 

– maturity 

To improve:

– needs to show slightly more composure and better decision-making on the ball under pressure

Style of play:

– complete, dominant, and elegant centre-back

– tall and very strong for his age/should develop extremely well physically in the coming years

– tactically astute and technically capable of playing in various tactical systems

– suitable to play as a RCB in a three-man line or even right-back if needed

– decent top speed and agility for a player of his size, which helps him to be efficient in wide areas

– likes an active style of defending by getting into challenges and pressing opponents

– often leaves the line and tries to anticipate the play and outpace his opponents/likes high-risk, high-reward playstyle

– superb passing skills at all distances

– good confidence in possession, understanding of the game, and an above-average technical capacity

– decent ball carrier, who likes to maraud forward and assess options on the move

– concentrated, committed, and positively aggressive in duels

– often cuts or intercepts passes and crosses near or inside his penalty area thanks to his ability to read the game, anticipation, and positioning

– knows how to use his upper-body strength in challenges/wins most of the physical duels

– his long-reaching legs are incredibly effective when it comes to tackling and recovering from mistakes

– extremely dominant in the air

– operates comfortably with his weaker left foot

– very accomplished and mature for his age/potential leader of the defensive line

Palma showcases excellent reading of the game, anticipates the play, and makes an important interception.

Palma remains focused and makes a crucial clearance.

Palma delivers an excellent long-range diagonal pass to his overlapping full-back.

Heatmap by Wyscout:

He is best suited to playing as:

Central defender in 4-3-3.

Video:

Achievements:

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League summary (as of 30 January 2025):

No senior team appearances yet.

Description:

Matteo Palma joined Udinese’s youth academy from Hertha in 2022 and has since established himself as one of the most promising U-17 center-backs in Europe. He made his senior debut on September 25, 2024, in a Coppa Italia match against Salernitana. Although he initially represented Italy at the U-15 level, he now serves as a key figure in Germany’s U-17 setup.

Quotes:

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Football Talent Scout potential rating:

9/10  

Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.

Links:

Transfermarkt

Soccerway

Playmaker