Ernest Nuamah signed in Lyon on August 30, 2023. The Ghanaian, 19, is a raw talent, and OL, however in financial difficulty, will pay out at least 23 million euros, as part of a loan with mandatory purchase option, to keep the player permanently. Presentation of the young phenomenon?
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It’s official ! Lyon announced on Wednesday that it had loaned Ghanaian international striker Ernest Nuamah, after he was transferred from Norddjaelland (Danish D1) to Molenbeek (Belgian D1), a club in the Eagle Football galaxy like OL.
At just 19 years old, Ernest Nuamah is the very definition of these profiles that we like to call “nuggets” in football jargon. Prolific (14 goals last season), efficient (elected best player in the Danish championship in 2022/2023), and spectacular, he has everything to please an audience at Groupama Stadium, depressed by the latest performances from Les Gones.
OL have signed all documents and they’re set to unveil Ernest Nuamah as new signing. Medical completed, deal sealed 🔴🔵🇬🇭 #OL
Official statement expected today for 2003 born striker who’s joining from Nordsjaelland. pic.twitter.com/U1FBYkXl32
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 24, 2023
” On his first matches with NordsjællandI noticed it right awayrecalls Michael Marques, owner of the Twitter account @MyckiMFootball, specializing in the search for the young talents of tomorrow. He’s the very distinctive kind of player on the pitch. Technically he has a certain finesse and he is very toned “.
A profile capable of playing on all fronts of the attack, capable of making differences in one against one and of dynamiting the game somewhat, which an insipid OL will need. ” It’s the style of player who doesn’t need others to perform, he can create the difference on his own, insists Michael Marques. He can sometimes abuse it a little and forget his partners, but he has the ability, in motion as well as stopped, to leave his direct opponent in place. »
A talent yet to be polished
After a stint at the Right to Dream Academy in Accra, where his compatriots Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mohamed Kudus preceded him, then a little over a season in Denmark, Nuamah will therefore discover a whole new environment with the League. 1. “ He will have time to acclimatise, he is a young player, we will have to give him time, tempers Michael Marques. Compared to other big hopes in Europe like Jude Bellingham or Jamal Musiala. He lacks performance at a very high level, he is still in a maturation phase. »
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Defensively, he still has some grain to grind. If he develops a lot of speed, which helps him put pressure on opposing defenses without the ball, he still needs to improve” in its regularity to provide these efforts », points out Michael Marques.
The problem is that OL don’t necessarily have a lot of time. The season started three days ago and the results are already long overdue, after a 4-1 slap received at home by Montpellier on Saturday August 19, and a 17th place in the standings. At not even 20 years old, the chances of seeing him quickly launched into the deep end are not slim. Maybe this Sunday against PSG…
A return on investment no matter what?
Left-handed, very comfortable on his right side to transplant in the axis, it is probably in this role that Laurent Blanc will first use him. At least until the young Ghanaian takes his marks.
Bringing such a young player on loan with a compulsory option to buy for around 23 million euros, with bonuses of up to 30 million euros which would make him the most player in the history of the club, is obviously a risk. But a moderate risk, according to Michael Marques.
His price rose rapidly due to his young age, competition in the transfer window and his contract which still ran until 2026 to be redeemed. However, ” his style, made of bursts, means that there will necessarily be interested clubs at the time of resale », Analyzes the scout. Finally a clearing in the grayness of Lyon?