The Rise of Arda Güler: A Young Talent Making Waves in Football
Arda Güler, an 18-year-old football sensation, became the focus of attention when he signed with Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 after being sought after by numerous top-tier European clubs. The Spanish giants paid around €26 million to Fenerbahçe to secure this young Turkish talent, even as reports from Barcelona hinted at a potential signing with their team. Fast forward to today, and Güler's value has skyrocketed to €90 million, doubling from €45 million at the beginning of 2025, showing remarkable growth over the past year.
Despite facing setbacks due to injuries during his debut season at Madrid, Güler quickly showcased his remarkable goal-scoring capabilities once he returned to full fitness. In just 373 minutes of playtime in La Liga, he netted six goals, averaging an extraordinary goal every 62 minutes on the field. Now, at the age of 20, Güler is cementing his status as one of Europe’s premier creative midfielders.
He initially played as an attacking midfielder under Xabi Alonso during the Club World Cup but has since transitioned into a deep-lying playmaker role. Recently, following the appointment of coach Álvaro Arbeloa, Güler has been operating in a more advanced position. Some observers have suggested that the expectations placed on him may be too high, demanding him to balance play initiation from the back while also contributing significantly to the scoring front—essentially asking him to be a blend of notable players like Toni Kroos and Kevin De Bruyne. This is no small task, especially for someone so young.
This past weekend, without much fanfare, Güler achieved the remarkable feat of leading La Liga in chances created, totaling 52. This is an honor previously held by football legends such as Xavi Hernández, Mesut Özil, Ángel Di María, Neymar, and Lionel Messi, none of whom accomplished it at such a young age.
Güler's exceptional passing skills have placed him second in La Liga with seven assists and third in big chances created with nine. His contribution against Benfica saw him lead Champions League midfielders with four assists, tied with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai. Since the start of the Club World Cup, Güler has amassed 14 assists, a figure that ranks second only to Michael Olise’s 18 assists at Bayern Munich among players in the top five European leagues since July in official matches.
What stands out is the significant number of goal-scoring opportunities Güler is setting up for his teammates. He is averaging an impressive 3.64 chances created per 90 minutes in league play, marking the highest average for a leader in chances created in La Liga since Mesut Özil recorded 4.17 key passes per 90 minutes during the 2010/2011 season. Remarkably, nearly 35% of Güler's chances are made through long passes, as categorized by Opta. If he continues to receive ample playing time in this advanced role, and with strong performances from teammates like Mbappé, Vinicius, and Gonzalo, there is a real possibility that Arda could become the first La Liga player in four seasons to achieve over 100 key passes in a single season.
Güler's performances in the Champions League have been equally impressive. He finished the group stage ranked second in chances created with 24, averaging 3.9 per 90 minutes. This season, he achieved his first Player of the Match award in the Champions League against Juventus, delivering six key passes and making 10 ball recoveries in what was just his fourth start in this prestigious tournament. For context, fellow young star Pedri earned his first such accolade in his fifth season (25th start) at Barcelona.
The synergy between Güler and Kylian Mbappé has proven to be particularly potent, with the duo collaborating to score 10 goals since the Club World Cup, nine of which were facilitated by Güler’s passes to Mbappé. This includes six goals scored in league matches, establishing them as the most productive partnership among teammates in the top five European leagues this season. Additionally, Güler seems to have built a strong rapport with Gonzalo García, assisting three of his goals despite limited playing time together.
However, some skeptics label Güler primarily as a set-piece specialist with defensive shortcomings. Yet, several data points challenge this perception.
Out of Güler’s 52 key passes in La Liga, 36—over 69%—have occurred during open play, ranking him fifth in the league, behind only names like Mbappé and Vinicius.
Despite his relatively slight physique, Güler demonstrates a surprisingly strong defensive game. According to Statsbomb data, he leads Real Madrid in total pressures in La Liga with 406 and is also at the forefront for counter-pressures (pressure applied immediately after losing possession) with 96.
Earlier in the season, Statsbomb indicated that Güler was leading all La Liga players in pressure regains per 90 minutes, underscoring the effectiveness of his pressing.
Many might be astonished to discover that Güler averages 1.20 successful tackles per 90 minutes in league matches, outperforming teammates Tchouaméni and Valverde.
Güler is continually honing his ability to win the ball back. He recorded 10 ball recoveries across two of the six Champions League matches he started this season, a remarkable achievement for any player, particularly an attacking midfielder. One notable instance was his interception on Monaco's half of the pitch, which set up the play leading to his assist for Vinicius's goal.
Perhaps what Arda truly needs is a standout performance in a Champions League knockout match to solidify his reputation as one of Europe’s top attacking midfielders and earn the recognition he rightly deserves. Don't be surprised if that moment comes this spring.
