Wolfsberger AC defender rated world’s best young centre-back for ground defending outside Europe’s top leagues.

Chibuike Nwaiwu

Former Enyimba defender Chibuike Nwaiwu has been ranked the best U-23 centre-back in the world for ground defending outside Europe’s top five leagues by the CIES Football Observatory.

The Wolfsberger AC star topped the list with an impressive 90.8 rating, finishing ahead of Denmark’s Noah Markmann and Boca Juniors’ Lautaro Di Lollo. The ranking excludes defenders from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, highlighting Nwaiwu’s dominance across comparable leagues globally.

Since joining Wolfsberger from Heartland FC in 2024, the 6ft 4in Nigerian has become a defensive mainstay, featuring in 12 Austrian Bundesliga matches, completing 90 minutes in 11 of them.

His rise has attracted strong European interest, with PSG, Bayer Leverkusen, Leeds United, and several Ligue 1 clubs reportedly monitoring his progress.

Despite missing out on Nigeria’s AFCON squad, Nwaiwu’s club form continues to strengthen his reputation as one of the most promising young defenders in world football.