In his first season at Manchester City, he played just ten games, but Nathan Aké has already exceeded that tally this season and is now quickly becoming one of the greatest defenders on the planet. 

Reducing the role of a defender to just keeping the ball out of their own net seems prehistoric in today’s game, with defenders needing to be proficient at playing out from the back and starting attacks — especially when playing under Pep Guardiola. So much more is asked of Aké than just solid defending at Manchester City.

Decision-making and timing have always been Aké’s best qualities. Composed on the ball, the Dutchman was a natural ball player from academy age and has tried his hand in midfield and at left-back at various points throughout his career. Aké has completed the third most successful passes per 90 minutes of any player in the Premier League this season, enjoying an above-92 per cent completion rate. 

This alone would be impressive, but it’s made more so by the fact that Aké is left-footed which means, unlike most left-centre-backs, he can receive a pass on his front foot. For this reason, he plays forward passes more often, where some rack up an impressive pass completion rate through safe passes on their favoured right foot. Right-footed centre-backs who play on the left, such as Harry Maguire or Kalidou Koulibaly, have to take an awkward, backwards touch before playing a pass which automatically narrows their passing options. 

Aké is instead able to create a generous angle for himself by letting the ball come across him, opening his body up by a greater angle to play a forward pass. 

Despite having always been used as a ball-playing defender, Aké has scarcely made an error on the ball and gifted the ball to the opposition, which is a compliment to his decision-making. 

Having gained an understanding of the requirements of a midfielder and a left-back, Aké is now often seen stepping out of his default centre-back position to cover for teammates or to cut out potential danger. 

This ability to look comfortable in many positions helped inspire Guardiola’s thinking and Manchester City’s latest tactical advancement. 

Since the World Cup, Guardiola has opted for a back-three hidden in a back-four — with one full-back pushing up particularly high. While ostensibly a left-back in a back-four system, in practice, Aké has been on the left of a back-three. This plays to his strengths by allowing him to simultaneously access the half-space and wide zone. This is where he’s been most commonly used for the Netherlands of late, too. 

It does mean, however, that Aké has been exposed to a fair number of one-v-one defensive battles on the wing. This hasn’t proved to be an issue at all, though. Aké’s discipline is excellent — he’s only received two yellow cards in 27 matches in all competitions this season — and a combination of mature decision-making and athleticism make him effectively a cheat code. He’s able to stand attackers up and force them to make the decision of how to beat him. This is all because Aké knows he’s got the quick reactions to be able to stick with his man until the ball is won or the threat is gone. Aké stays on his feet longer than most too, and never commits to a challenge before the time is right. In those 27 matches, he’s been dribbled past just three times.