Jefferson Lerma

Jefferson Lerma is Colombia's midfield engine — a relentlessly physical, high-energy defensive midfielder who has been a Premier League regular for the better part of a decade. After making his name at Bournemouth, where he was a cornerstone through promotion and relegation battles, he joined Crystal Palace in 2023 and continued to demonstrate his value in England's top flight. Lerma's game is built on interceptions, aerial dominance, and an almost reckless commitment to winning the ball. He is one of Colombia's most capped and trusted midfielders, the kind of player whose absence is felt immediately in the team's defensive shape.