Noni Madueke – Transfer Report

It’s yet another marquee signing to add to Chelsea’s bizarre transfer window and yet another scintillating talent produced by the Dutch Eredivisie.

Chukwunonso Tristan “Noni” Madueke just moved from PSV to Chelsea in the Premier League for a rumoured 35 million euros, signing a seven-and-a-half-year contract that ties him down to the club until 2030.

Madueke has been touted as an emerging talent from the early beginnings of his career. Originally from Tottenham Hotspur’s academy, the Londoner turned down Spurs’ professional offer and a contract offer from Premier League giant Manchester United to secure a deal with PSV Eindhoven.

He joins a host of English talent that made the decision to sign abroad at a young age in order to secure more game time. That decision paid off greatly and he made his senior debut for Jong PSV at the age of 17, where he showcased his talents. He was then immediately fast-tracked into the first team and was rewarded with his debut in January of the following year.

So who is Noni Madueke, and how can he fit into Graham Potter’s big plans for Chelsea?

Noni Madueke's Eredivise career by numbers:

◉ 2177 minutes
◉ 11 goals
◉ 7 assists
◎ 4.1 take-ons per 90
◎ 3.4 shots per 90
◎ 1.8 chances created per 90

When he's fit, he fires. 🔥 https://t.co/hC8q6VWMx6

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 20, 2023

Strengths

Madueke is best known for his dribbling abilities. His trickery and change of pace see him go past opposition defenders with ease, leaving them in the dust. He is also able to switch directions rapidly, dodging tackles from opposing defenders.

His ability to shield the ball with his body is also impressive for a 20-year-old. He has an innate predatory ability to accelerate quickly past a defender and immediately cut inwards to block the defender’s path with his body which allows him to breeze past them along the touchlines.

Madueke recorded 4.74 dribbles per game in the Eredivisie, placing him in the 99th percentile for dribbles completed.

Furthermore, Madueke’s positioning is also an integral part of his game. His manager at PSV, Roger Schmidt, described him as being “able to read situations, get to the right positions and be in the right place”.

Madueke’s intricate positioning allows him to rank in the 99th percentile for npxG and in the 98th percentile for progressive passes received. He is nearly always in the right place at the right time and is often available to receive a pass and create a goal-scoring opportunity.

Madueke’s creativity and precise passing is also another key facet of his gameplay. He ranks in the 98th percentile for expected assists and in the 93rd percentile for passes into the penalty area. He is incredibly capable of creating chances for both himself and his teammates and was heavily relied on at PSV as a creative spark.

However, one aspect of Madueke’s gameplay that is often undervalued is his defensive output and aerial ability. In an era where top-tier forwards stroll around in defensive phases, conserving energy for their next counter-attack, Noni’s willingness to pressure opponents and get back to help out in defence is incredibly promising and gives him a deserved advantage over his peers.

He ranks in the 84th percentile in terms of tackles and provides a lot of cover especially in pressing scenarios. His aerial ability also compliments his gameplay and he is able to win aerial duels in both boxes, ranking in the 83rd percentile for his percentage of aerials won.

Weaknesses

However, Madueke is not flawless, and he has some rather pressing issues that impact his gameplay severely.

Firstly, Madueke’s finishing is a major cause of concern. He has been constantly underperforming his npxG by about 0.33. To put this into perspective, that ranks him in the bottom percentile compared to other wingers and attacking midfielders in the top five leagues.

If he isn’t able to finish off the chances he creates, his value will diminish greatly, especially since he relies heavily on cutting onto his strong foot and finishing from outside the box.

This is something that can be trained on the training ground and he will hope that this underperformance will eventually average out and he will be able to put up respectable scoring numbers in the Premier League charts.

Another problem that Madueke encounters is his weak first touch. Other wingers are often able to breeze past opponents using a clever first touch, but in Madueke’s case, he often has to get the ball out from under his feet before being able to turn & drive at the opposition.

He also requires a sufficient amount of open space to drive into to gain momentum before being able to glide past opposition defenders.

If defenders figure him out and are able to close him down before he is able to turn and dribble, Madueke’s dribbling threat could be diminished greatly and it is something he and his manager will have to work on & take into consideration.

Whether it’s dropping deeper in possession or using other players to create space for himself, these little details are incredibly crucial to allow him to gain momentum. However, once he is in his groove, there is almost no stopping him, much like Chelsea fan favourite Eden Hazard in his prime.

Conclusion

Madueke is definitely one of the most exciting youngsters coming into the Premier League. Personally, I feel that his transfer should be regarded as a coup and definitely a better transfer than Mudryk, both because of the transfer fee and the player profile.

I definitely have a soft spot for attackers that contribute defensively and would love to see Madueke go all the way and become a Premier League star. His profile suits Graham Potter’s tactics & style of play rather fittingly & he could be a key component of Chelsea’s attack in the coming seasons.

With fellow winter transfer Mudryk already making a strong start in the Premier League, and impressing many on his debut, I look forward to seeing Madueke earn his debut and can see him carving a starting spot for himself at Chelsea in the near future.

Also read: Mykhailo Mudryk – Transfer Report: Is He Worth The Hype