Jefferson Lerma
based on the 2025/26 season · updated 18 Aug 2026
Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Crystal Palace.
Scout report
J. Lerma is a 31-year-old central midfielder at Crystal Palace, rated 37.1 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 165th of 197 on scout potential in the Premier League. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option this season (50.6% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.07 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Lerma.
Judged on this season alone, Lerma graded 24 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 21st of 42 of the 42 central midfielders in the Premier League, on 0 goals, 2 assists and 3.068 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 28 → 24). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2022/23.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 37, 31st of 42 of the 42 central midfielders in the Premier League. At 31 Lerma is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 21.2 reflects that trajectory.
Past his 2022/23 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.
Output in context · Crystal Palace finished 15th of 20 · a lower-table side
3.07 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (15th of 20) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 92.6/100).
Watch points
- Game time. Only 50.6% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
- Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 37.1, Lerma carries the 31st-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Premier League of 42, and he is posting that for a lower-table side (Crystal Palace finished 15th of 20) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.07 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Premier League with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Defending
Yellow/red cards
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
