| Genuinely high level Champions League player. 00:12 - Aug 26 with 3208 views | BlueBirdBlue |
A quite absurd signing. Im struggling to think of a bigger gap between a players ability and a teams ability on paper in world football.
The guy is at his peak!
According to t’internet.
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Exequiel Palacios is a very good midfielder at the highest level, but I wouldn't put him in the absolute elite tier of world midfielders.
At 27, he is an established Bayer Leverkusen and Argentina international, and he has been an important part of Leverkusen's midfield for years. Bayer themselves describe him as combining aggressive defensive work with creative ability.
Where I'd put him
My rough assessment:
World football overall: around 35–50th among midfielders
Central/box-to-box midfielders: around 30–40th
Argentina: probably one of the top 5–7 midfield options
Champions League level: absolutely good enough
Elite/world-class: not quite
What makes Palacios good
🎯 Passing & technique — 8.5/10
He's technically excellent and can play through pressure, switch play and progress the ball.
🧠 Football intelligence — 9/10
Probably his biggest strength. He reads space well and understands when to move forward or stay behind.
💪 Defensive work — 8/10
He's aggressive without the ball and contributes tackles, interceptions and recoveries.
⚡ Press resistance — 8.5/10
Very comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and keeping possession moving.
⚽ Creativity — 7.5/10
He can create and contribute in the final third, but he's not a Bruno Fernandes/De Bruyne-type chance creator.
🥅 Goal threat — 7/10
He has shown he can score — for example, he scored six Bundesliga goals in 2023/24 — but goals aren't the defining part of his game.
The important distinction
I wouldn't say Palacios is the 47th-best midfielder in some objectively measurable sense. That number is subjective.
But if you're asking whether 47th in the world is a ridiculous ranking for Palacios, I'd say no. It's actually a pretty defensible range.
I'd personally put him around 40–45th right now, with the potential to move higher depending on form.
His 2025/26 Bundesliga numbers were also respectable: 25 appearances, 0 goals and 1 assist, with FotMob giving him a 7.19 average rating.
In short: Palacios is not a world superstar like Rodri, Pedri, Bellingham or Vitinha, but he's a genuinely high-level Champions League midfielder and a very useful Argentina player.
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Fair play Ashton. Maybe Gabriel Jesus isn’t off the table after all when he sees Palacios and Enciso at the club.
Proper world take notice signing. Quite the sell. We were once one of the best teams the world, Exequiel. Come and be the catalyst to get us back to that level. Be the biggest signing this club has ever made. Be the main man at the heart of something special. [Post edited 26 Aug 0:13]
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| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:03 - Aug 26 with 3002 views | ITFCson |
A cynic would question why no higher level teams are in for him.
Still, im excited by this signing although Enciso excites me more. Let’s hope not Phillips Mk 2 | | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:42 - Aug 26 with 2938 views | The_Romford_Blue |
He got Man of the Match in a champions league Last 16 game against Arsenal less than 6 months ago.
It’s borderline insanity [Post edited 26 Aug 2:30]
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| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:58 - Aug 26 with 2880 views | davblue |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:42 - Aug 26 by The_Romford_Blue |
He got Man of the Match in a champions league Last 16 game against Arsenal less than 6 months ago.
It’s borderline insanity [Post edited 26 Aug 2:30]
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What champions league final was that? |  | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:58 - Aug 26 with 2874 views | Len_Brennan |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:42 - Aug 26 by The_Romford_Blue |
He got Man of the Match in a champions league Last 16 game against Arsenal less than 6 months ago.
It’s borderline insanity [Post edited 26 Aug 2:30]
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You mean the Portuguese lad Vitinha, who plays with PSG? | |
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| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 02:32 - Aug 26 with 2803 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:58 - Aug 26 by Len_Brennan |
You mean the Portuguese lad Vitinha, who plays with PSG? |
It was supposed to say quarter final. Not final. Typo.
As it turns out, it was a last 16 game rather than quarter final anyway.
The point still remains the same. If he can do it on the big stage against Arsenal less than 6 months ago, as he’s proven, then why some are doubting this signing, I just don’t understand. | |
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| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 05:36 - Aug 26 with 2563 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:42 - Aug 26 by The_Romford_Blue |
He got Man of the Match in a champions league Last 16 game against Arsenal less than 6 months ago.
It’s borderline insanity [Post edited 26 Aug 2:30]
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Ah you’re back are you! Were you routing for ACL injuries for Rice in that one as well? |  |
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| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 07:06 - Aug 26 with 2216 views | londonben |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:03 - Aug 26 by ITFCson |
A cynic would question why no higher level teams are in for him.
Still, im excited by this signing although Enciso excites me more. Let’s hope not Phillips Mk 2 |
I suspect because of his injury record. Missed a big chunk of last season with three separate injuries, and the most games he’s started in a season is 21 apparently.
That being said - I think he’s worth a gamble for us. We’ve made some really solid CM signings already and with Nunez looking like a new player in there and Matusiwa still on his way back I’d say we’re actually pretty well stocked. Palacios is the kind of player that if he works out could be utterly game changing for us, and if he doesn’t it’s actually not the end of the world. We’re not really pinning our survival on him carrying our midfield, as we were somewhat with Phillips last time. We’re taking a punt on a chance that he could push us on to the next level. Would have been a terrifying first signing this summer, but a really exciting ~12th one! | | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 08:11 - Aug 26 with 1764 views | bsw72 |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:03 - Aug 26 by ITFCson |
A cynic would question why no higher level teams are in for him.
Still, im excited by this signing although Enciso excites me more. Let’s hope not Phillips Mk 2 |
Partly injury and partly because he does not improve on what the bigger more established PL sides already have. As for sides like Brentford or Brighton their model tends to be picking players with future sale benefit, and a 27 yo does not necessarily offer that for them. Maybe Leeds, Forest or even Sunderland would have been good suitors, but we have the space in our current SCR to afford him still, they may be tighter esp after Forest are sinking £50m on Delap. |  | | |
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| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 09:55 - Aug 26 with 1338 views | billlm |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:03 - Aug 26 by ITFCson |
A cynic would question why no higher level teams are in for him.
Still, im excited by this signing although Enciso excites me more. Let’s hope not Phillips Mk 2 |
His injury record last year has probably put people off,,
As another poster gave reasons top 6 have better,
Some look to investment,
Maybe just maybe he was sold a dream/reality and he likes a challenge not everyone in life takes easy money and an easy life this guy is a fighter a very good footballer,
Just maybe!!! |  | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:00 - Aug 26 with 1298 views | Libero |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 01:03 - Aug 26 by ITFCson |
A cynic would question why no higher level teams are in for him.
Still, im excited by this signing although Enciso excites me more. Let’s hope not Phillips Mk 2 |
I imagine it's because his fitness - last season he played a mere 18 league games, season before 24, season before that 24, season before that 25, which is the most league games he's ever played in a single season...
He's a very talented played, but he has had some issues.
2025/26, he missed 22 games after suffering a serious myotendinous issue in his right adductor that required surgery.
2024/25, he underwent a meniscus operation after the 2024 Copa América, causing him to miss the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
2023/24, he had multiple separate muscular setbacks that sidelined him for various stretches.
Also, back in 2020 he had a spine fracture that kept him out for three months! |  | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:04 - Aug 26 with 1231 views | _CliveBaker_ |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:00 - Aug 26 by Libero |
I imagine it's because his fitness - last season he played a mere 18 league games, season before 24, season before that 24, season before that 25, which is the most league games he's ever played in a single season...
He's a very talented played, but he has had some issues.
2025/26, he missed 22 games after suffering a serious myotendinous issue in his right adductor that required surgery.
2024/25, he underwent a meniscus operation after the 2024 Copa América, causing him to miss the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
2023/24, he had multiple separate muscular setbacks that sidelined him for various stretches.
Also, back in 2020 he had a spine fracture that kept him out for three months! |
"Palacios is back next month" |  | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:13 - Aug 26 with 1123 views | Libero |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:04 - Aug 26 by _CliveBaker_ |
"Palacios is back next month" |
HA! - I haven't looked at how many 90 minutes he's completed, but it's not an unfair comparison. Albeit at a significantly superior level.
Reality is, if he didn't have these issues, he wouldn't be signing for Ipswich Town. | | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:36 - Aug 26 with 977 views | Blaggers12 |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:00 - Aug 26 by Libero |
I imagine it's because his fitness - last season he played a mere 18 league games, season before 24, season before that 24, season before that 25, which is the most league games he's ever played in a single season...
He's a very talented played, but he has had some issues.
2025/26, he missed 22 games after suffering a serious myotendinous issue in his right adductor that required surgery.
2024/25, he underwent a meniscus operation after the 2024 Copa América, causing him to miss the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
2023/24, he had multiple separate muscular setbacks that sidelined him for various stretches.
Also, back in 2020 he had a spine fracture that kept him out for three months! |
This has got failed medical written all over it. |  |
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| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:38 - Aug 26 with 962 views | Libero |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:36 - Aug 26 by Blaggers12 |
This has got failed medical written all over it. |
You would assume the club has done it's due diligence and that they're fairly confident that there won't be any issues? | | | |
| Not sure you get to have a proper look until deal agreed? on 10:50 - Aug 26 with 876 views | Dyland |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 10:38 - Aug 26 by Libero |
You would assume the club has done it's due diligence and that they're fairly confident that there won't be any issues? |
So there's only so much due diligence you can do until they're doing the actual medical examination at the buyer's club. |  |
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| heh on 10:52 - Aug 26 with 864 views | Dyland |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 09:55 - Aug 26 by billlm |
His injury record last year has probably put people off,,
As another poster gave reasons top 6 have better,
Some look to investment,
Maybe just maybe he was sold a dream/reality and he likes a challenge not everyone in life takes easy money and an easy life this guy is a fighter a very good footballer,
Just maybe!!! |
Your blind blue hope is doing a lot of heavy lifting there ba :) | |
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| Not sure you get to have a proper look until deal agreed? on 11:00 - Aug 26 with 795 views | Libero |
| Not sure you get to have a proper look until deal agreed? on 10:50 - Aug 26 by Dyland |
So there's only so much due diligence you can do until they're doing the actual medical examination at the buyer's club. |
Of course, but with time being money and it being a high profile deal, you'd assume they wouldn't let it get *this* far if there was anything that they were concerned about. | | | |
| Dunno on 11:03 - Aug 26 with 777 views | Dyland |
| Not sure you get to have a proper look until deal agreed? on 11:00 - Aug 26 by Libero |
Of course, but with time being money and it being a high profile deal, you'd assume they wouldn't let it get *this* far if there was anything that they were concerned about. |
Brentford had Cajuste in the door last season and he failed the medical...? And plenty of other examples innit Libbers.
Call me a pessimist, but as my dear old dad used to say, nah just a realist. I still think we'll either get gazumped at the last minute or he'll fail a medical or there be a visa issue or some such bollix :)
EDIT: Oh, or C) he will sign and be injured immediately and out for most of the season. Arf! [Post edited 26 Aug 11:04]
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| Dunno on 11:06 - Aug 26 with 760 views | Libero |
| Dunno on 11:03 - Aug 26 by Dyland |
Brentford had Cajuste in the door last season and he failed the medical...? And plenty of other examples innit Libbers.
Call me a pessimist, but as my dear old dad used to say, nah just a realist. I still think we'll either get gazumped at the last minute or he'll fail a medical or there be a visa issue or some such bollix :)
EDIT: Oh, or C) he will sign and be injured immediately and out for most of the season. Arf! [Post edited 26 Aug 11:04]
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I hear you, but Cajuste isn't anywhere near Palacious in profile.
I think your edit is very possible, looking at the evidence. | | | |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 11:41 - Aug 26 with 587 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Genuinely high level Champions League player. on 05:36 - Aug 26 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Ah you’re back are you! Were you routing for ACL injuries for Rice in that one as well? |
Probably. Hate the bloke.
It’s worth noting I know him through a mutual friend. He isn’t a nice bloke no matter how much this media love-in for him makes people think otherwise.
Also, sounds abit like it annoys you I’m back which is weird. | |
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