As the Italy Serie B 2025/26 season unfolds, a new wave of young talents is making a name for themselves across the league. From commanding defenders to dynamic forwards, these players are proving their worth with standout performances and impressive data-driven contributions. Using advanced performance metrics, we break down their impact, strengths, and potential, giving a data-driven perspective on why these rising stars are ones to watch. Let’s dive into the numbers and uncover what makes them stand out in Italy Serie B.
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“Rising Star” 4 Best U23 Players Italy Serie B 2025/26 Season So Far
Raphael Kofler (‘05) (CB) – Südtirol
Raphael Kofler‘s CompaAI Parameters League Defensive report:
Kofler’s standout strength is his ball recovery volume. He ranks 1st out of 14 for Ball recoveries per match (16), ahead of Alessio Castellini, who is second with 13.94. He also leads Ball recovery in own half per match with 12.43, again ahead of Gabriele Guarino at 11.7, and tops Ball recoveries in the opponent half per match with 3.5, narrowly ahead of Castellini at 3.29. This combination shows a defender who is extremely active in winning second balls, closing space, and regaining possession across the full pitch. Tactically, this profile fits a team that wants its centre-back to defend proactively, step into midfield, and support immediate regains after loss of possession. His counterpressing recovery output is another major strength. Kofler is 1st out of 14 with 7.54 counterpressing recoveries per match, clearly above Castellini’s 5.68. That is a strong indicator of a defender who responds quickly after possession changes and helps stabilize the team when the structure is temporarily broken. In practical terms, he can be valuable in high-tempo systems, especially when the back line is asked to defend high and compress space aggressively.
Kofler’s best ranking parameters are Ball recoveries, Ball recoveries in own half, Ball recoveries in the opponent half, Counterpressing recoveries, Defensive actions, and Successful defensive actions, all of which place him at or near the top of the under-23 CB group. This profile points to a highly active, high-volume defender with strong recovery ability and excellent involvement in team defensive work. The main areas for improvement are interceptions, pass interceptions, efficiency percentage, and dribbles against won, where he is still solid but less dominant than the top leaders.
Raphael Kofler (‘05) (CB) – Südtirol
Gabriele Bracaglia (‘03) (LB) – Frosinone
Gabriele Bracaglia‘s CompaAI Parameters League Defensive report:
Bracaglia’s strongest defensive output comes in ball-winning and recovery actions in deeper areas, where he ranks among the top performers in his position group. He is 1st out of 13 for Shots blocked (0.33), level with the best mark in the group and slightly ahead of Brando Moruzzi (0.30). He is also 1st out of 13 for Counterpressing recoveries (3.93), ahead of Stefano Di Mario (3.11). These two metrics point to a defender who can react quickly after possession loss, get involved immediately in second-ball situations, and protect the team’s defensive shape with active intervention. His next strongest area is a broad set of high-volume defensive contributions, where he remains near the top of the position rankings. He is 2nd out of 13 in Ball recoveries (7.56), just behind Stefano Di Mario (7.80), Ball recoveries in own half (4.96), behind Stefano Di Mario (5.69), and Ball recoveries in the opponent half (2.59), narrowly behind Costantino Favasuli (2.65). He also ranks 2nd out of 13 for Clearances (2.04), behind Moussa Mané (2.23), and Successful defensive actions (22.48), just behind Stefano Di Mario (22.74). This cluster shows consistency across both deeper defending and stepping into pressure zones higher up the pitch. For a tactical setup, he can be useful as an active full-back in a pressing team, because he contributes both to stopping attacks near his box and to regaining the ball higher up.
Bracaglia’s best ranking parameters are Shots blocked, Counterpressing recoveries, and the broader recovery set, especially Ball recoveries, Ball recoveries in own half, and Successful defensive actions. Overall, his seasonal profile points to a highly active defensive full-back with strong recovery instincts, good volume, and solid efficiency in defensive work. His main limitations are in advanced-area defensive disruption and 1v1 duel wins, which may affect his suitability as a lone wide defender in very aggressive defending structures. In tactical terms, he can be a strong fit in a compact or pressing system where he is asked to recover, support, and close space quickly, with cover around him when isolated.
Gabriele Bracaglia (‘03) (LB) – Frosinone
Alphadjo Cissè (‘06) (AMF) – Catanzaro
Alphadjo Cissè‘s CompaAI Parameters League Offensive report:
Alphadjo Cissè’s strongest seasonal output is in direct goal production and involvement around the box. He ranks 1st out of 26 AMF/CMF U23 players for Goals (0.33), Playing in scoring attacks (0.67), Shots (2.2), and Shots on target (0.87). He is also 1st for Dribbles (4.87), Successful dribbles (2.87), Dribbling in the final third (3.73), Successful dribbling in the final third (2.07), Progressive runs (3.47), Opportunities (1.47), Offensive actions (35), and Successful offensive actions (20.2). Relative to the category leaders, these are top-end numbers: for example, he leads Issa Doumbia in goals, shots, dribbles, and progressive runs, and leads Luis Hasa in multiple ball progression and offensive volume metrics. This profile points to a player who can repeatedly break lines, carry the attack forward, and finish moves himself rather than acting only as a connector. His dribbling volume and final-third ball progression are especially notable. Leading the group in Dribbles (4.87) and Successful dribbles (2.87), while also topping dribbling in the final third and successful dribbling in the final third, suggests he is a primary 1v1 threat who can destabilize defensive structures close to goal. The combination of 35 offensive actions and 20.2 successful offensive actions also indicates very high involvement in attacking sequences, not just isolated actions. Tactically, this can make him valuable as a central or left-sided attacking option who can receive between the lines, attack defenders, and create local superiority through carrying. His shot volume and attacking presence in advanced areas reinforce the same picture. With 0.67 playing in scoring attacks, 1.47 opportunities, 2.2 shots, and 0.87 shots on target per match, he is consistently around the final action. He also ranks 2nd for Expected goals (0.18) and Touches in box (2.47), behind Issa Doumbia in both, which shows his output is not only dribbling-based but also connected to box entry and shooting positions.
Alphadjo Cissè’s best seasonal indicators are his goals, shots, dribbling volume, successful dribbles, final-third dribbling, progressive runs, offensive actions, and playing in scoring attacks, where he is ranked 1st in the AMF/CMF U23 group. He profiles as a high-impact attacking midfielder/left-sided attacker who can progress play aggressively, carry the ball into dangerous zones, and generate his own shooting opportunities. The main limitation is his lack of assist output and relatively modest chance-creation metrics, which can make him more of an attacker-finisher than a pure creator.
Alphadjo Cissè (‘06) (AMF) – Catanzaro
Stiven Shpendi (‘03) (CF) – Empoli
Stiven Shpendi‘s CompaAI Parameters League Offensive report:
Direct goal threat and finishing output Shpendi’s strongest seasonal output is in end product. He ranks 1st out of 9 among U23 CFs with 0.5 goals per match, ahead of Antonio Raimondo at 0.33. He also ranks 1st in shots on target per match with 1.17, just ahead of Cristian Shpendi at 1.13. In addition, he is 2nd in shots on target converted to goals, % with 42.86%, behind Bogdan Popov at 62.5%. This points to a forward who gets shots on target consistently and can convert a good share of them. Tactically, he profiles as a penalty-box finisher who can be used as the primary attacking reference when the team wants repeated entries into shooting zones. 1v1 threat and progressive ball progression He also leads the group in several carrying and dribbling indicators. Shpendi is 1st in dribbles per match with 1.58, tied with Cristian Shpendi, and 1st in successful dribbles per match with 0.92, ahead of Cristian Shpendi at 0.9. He is also 1st in dribbling in the final third per match with 1.38, and 1st in successful dribbling in the final third per match with 0.88. These numbers indicate a forward who can beat defenders and carry pressure into dangerous areas, not just finish moves. From a tactical perspective, this gives him value in transition attacks, isolated 1v1 situations, and as a forward who can destabilize a compact back line by attacking the final third with the ball. High offensive activity and involvement in attacking phases Shpendi ranks 1st in offensive actions per match with 22.92, marginally ahead of Fabio Abiuso at 22.71. He is also 1st in successful offensive actions per match with 13.33, and 1st in successful offensive actions, % with 58.18%, again ahead of Abiuso at 56.35%. This shows a player who is highly involved in the attacking rhythm and can sustain a high volume of positive actions.
Stiven Shpendi’s best seasonal indicators are his goals per match, shots on target per match, dribbles, successful dribbles, final-third dribbling, offensive actions, and successful offensive actions. The profile points to a direct, active, and goal-oriented forward with strong 1v1 ability and consistent attacking involvement. His main limitations are in assists, xA, shot assists, and being the top player in chance-generation metrics, which suggests a more finishing-focused role than a primary creator role.
Stiven Shpendi (‘03) (CF) – Empoli
