Manchester City have produced some of the top talents in football today. The likes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho are playing at the top level. Not every academy player gets a chance to play for the first team. Some players tagged as generational talents are the ones who get a chance at a young age. Others have to leave the club and find a new home.
One such player who left Manchester City’s academy was Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. He joined the club in 2009 when he was eight. Bashiru left the club in 2020 and joined Sheffield Wednesday. After spending three seasons in English lower divisions, the youngster moved to Turkish club Hatayspor ahead of the 2023-24 season. Lazio were impressed with his performance and decided to sign the player. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru joined the Italian club on a season-long loan, with an obligation to buy. The Nigerian was impressive last campaign, earning his first call-up for the Nigerian national team. Let’s see what the 23-year-old has in store for his new club.
Versatile attacker
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru played as an attacking midfielder for the Turkish side. His attacking areas could be observed from the ball progression chart. We can observe that the Nigerian is more of a wide attacker than a player who operates down the middle. He likes to take on defenders, especially on the wings. The 23-year-old is more comfortable playing down the left flank.
The above pizza chart shows the percentile rank of Dele-Bashiru in comparison to other attacking mids in Tier 1, 2 and 3 of league football. Lazio’s new signing lacked a bit in most areas. However, his passing accuracy and defensive work is what has impressed many.
Fisayo is a skilful player who completed most of his dribbles last season. His skills won plenty of fouls for the Turkish side, including a couple of penalties. The manager can bring Fisayo in the later stages of the match and he can trouble the defenders.
This plot analyzes the player’s movement and positioning in the box, combined with their ability to make forward runs, indicating their threat level in attack. Dele-Bashiru was among the best in Turkey for making such runs.
End Product
The Nigerian forward enjoyed the most successful season of his career in Turkey. He played 36 league games and ended up scoring eight goals. Most goals were scored from the left flank. Dele-Bashiru likes to go to the left of the goalkeeper.
In addition to his eight goals, the forward also created three for his teammates. Fisayo’s ability to take on defenders allowed him to deliver some cut-back passes. These often lead to a shot and a goal.
The above plot reflects the player’s skill in delivering precise passes into the penalty area, a critical aspect of breaking down defences. Dele-Bashiru was ranked way above average for delivering passes to the penalty box.
This plot measures the CAM/SS’s capacity to engage in and win offensive duels, reflecting their ability to retain possession and create in tight spaces. Bashiru’s ability to perform defensive actions makes him an even greater threat in the attacking areas.
Lazio will hope that their new signing shines. He could be an even bigger asset available at a cheaper price. The youngster will also aim to raise the level of his game in one of the best leagues in the world.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine