Why Leicester sensation Abdul Fatawu should prove the Premier League's breakout star
The main story of the evening was Jamie Vardy. The swashbuckling veteran was spotted guzzling a Red Bull down the tunnel before the match. Pumped with artificial sweetener and caffeine, he inevitably scored the equaliser for Leicester and left the pitch as a substitute hurling a slew of F-bombs at Tottenham defender Cristian Romero. It was vintage Vardy and boy, have we missed it.
Abdul Fatawu had his attention on Vardy, too, but in a different way. "Anytime I get the ball, I think of him and where to put the ball for him to score. Fortunately today it happened again and I’m so happy."
While this season could mark a curtain call for Vardy, a new name for the Foxes could begin his ascent as a Premier League star.
Fatawu provided the assist for Vardy, as well as making two key passes, one assist and six tackles, per WhoScored’s data. But just who is the 20-year-old attacker?
Adbul Fatawu - How much is he worth now?
According to our Estimated Transfer Value (ETV), Fatawu is worth €10.4m. We also rank him first in Best Future Ghanaian Players and third in Best Future Classic Wingers. He signed for Leicester from Sporting CP after a loan spell last season.
Abdul Fatawu - What does he bring to the table?
Fatawu is already a well-established name in African football. The Ghanaian is widely regarded as one of the continent's brightest prospects.
He began his career with Steadfast FC, a club competing in Zone One of the Division One League, the second tier of the Ghanaian football system. His talent quickly caught the eye, leading to a call-up for the 2021 Under-20 African Cup of Nations, where he played a pivotal role in securing Ghana’s fourth title in the tournament’s history.
In 2022, Fatawu signed a five-year contract with Portuguese giants Sporting CP. He struggled for minutes there, though, and just over a year later, at 19, he joined Leicester on an initial season-long loan before the move was made permanent this summer. Fatawu was a standout performer last season, playing a key role in Leicester’s promotion under then-manager Enzo Maresca. "Abdul is a real winger. This is the kind of winger I like," the Italian said at the time. "Every time he receives the ball, you as a journalist, the fans, and I as a manager, always feel that something will happen. This feeling is good. He’s this kind of winger."
Maresca's tactical approach emphasised one-on-one situations for Leicester's attackers, utilising inverted full-backs, which meant that Fatawu couldn't rely on bounce passes or one-twos to bypass defenders; he had to beat them on his own.
So far, Steve Cooper has not employed this blueprint at Leicester, as James Justin held his position against Spurs, leaving Fatawu to create opportunities from wider positions higher up the pitch. But the coach has found joy with traditional wingers over playing No.10s who penetrate the half space.
Cooper’s time with Nottingham Forest showcased this. Brennan Johnson scored eight goals and provided three assists in 40 matches, Anthony Elanga enjoyed a great spell under the Englishman, with six goal contributions in 17. But the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi struggled to make a significant impact in his system.
Fatawu’s game is defined by his blistering pace and technical skill. As an inverted winger, he uses his left foot to cut inside and deliver lofted balls into the box. He is an elite crosser, averaging 4.25 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes. Additionally, he has a successful take-on rate of 2.88 and provides 0.42 assists per 90 minutes. His high defensive actions also make him a similar profile to Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon.
While translating these numbers to the Premier League is a tall order, the early signs for Fatawu are undoubtedly promising.
This article was provided by FootballTransfers
