OneFootball
Phil Costa·22 January 2021
OneFootball
Phil Costa·22 January 2021
Every week, we will be highlighting a promising player who deserves your attention.
Noni Madueke is the latest Englishman to leave his hime country and thrive abroad.
But who is the teenager, what are his strengths and why is he generating so much excitement?
Born in North London, Madueke was initially scouted by Crystal Palace (aged 12) before joining Tottenham in 2015.
Spurs were quick to notice his talent and named him Under-16 captain, before big clubs began to circle after impressive domestic and UEFA Youth League performances.
Manchester United and Arsenal both made offers but PSV Eindhoven won the race for his signature, continuing the trend of exciting English talent moving abroad.
Madueke is most natural as an Arjen Robben-esque right winger or number ten, where he can drift inside and link with others.
The 18-year-old is very elegant and glides when in possession, showing light footwork and quick changes of direction for a tall (6’0″) player.
He has garnered criticism for not releasing the ball quickly enough, but that habit has slowed following his senior promotion under Roger Schmidt.
Compared to his PSV team-mates this season, he has:
Young players often lack consistency and end product when first breaking through – Madueke shares no such issue.
Despite his growing reputation, PSV have managed his development well and deserve credit for keeping Madueke grounded.
First-team opportunities have been earned through performances, with Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo forming a clinical front three on top form.
It’s clear his long-term future lies elsewhere but regular minutes are far more valuable at this moment, with an eventual return to Premier League football looking likely.