Richmond Boakye-Yiadom

Date of Birth	Nationality	Current Club	Position	Strengths		Weaknesses	Transfer Rumours	Market Value	Similar Players
				Physical	Technical + Mental
28/1/1993	Ghana	Elche (on loan from Juve	CF, RF, LF	Strength, Pace, Aerial	Movement, Shooting, Passing, Dribbling	Composure, Experience	-	-	-

Richmond Boakye-Yiadom is a 20 year old Striker who currently plays for Liga BBVA club Elche on loan from Juventus. He is currently co-owned by both Juventus and Genoa after Juventus paid €4m for 50% of his rights in 2012. Boakye began his football at the age of 10 playing for Bechem United in Ghana. He then moved to DC United, another Ghanaian club at the age of 13. It was at this club, at the age of 15, that he was scouted by Genoa during a tournament he participated in with DC United in Vicenza. He was signed by Genoa in the summer of 2008. During 2009-2010 he featured in the Campionato Nazionale Primavera for Genoa’s youth team. It was during this season that he was called up to the first team for Genoa 6 times. He made his debut on the 3^rd of April 2010 against Livorno coming on for David Suazo in the 13^th minute. He went on to score in this match with the game ending 1-1. He was only able to feature as a substitute in some of the other games and did not get much playing time for Genoa. For the 2011-2012 seasons he was loaned out to Sassuolo, a team in the Serie B at the time, to get more playing time. He had a great season for Sassuolo scoring 10 and assisting 2 as they reached the Serie B play-offs only to lose to Sampdoria in the final. He was a key part of the team’s performance that year and was noticed by Juventus who bought 50% of his rights from Genoa that summer. The following season Juventus devided to loan him back to Sassuolo so he could get more experience and playing time in a team he was already comfortable with. He had a fantastic start to the season scoring 9 goals and assisting 4 in his first 18 games. The second half of the season was less memorable for him. Hampered by injury in the beginning of 2013 he was only able to score 2 and assist 3 in the last 14 games. However, his performances outside goals and assists were brilliant and he was a key member for the team during the season. Sassuolo were crowned champions of the Serie B and earned automatic promotion to the Serie A. In the summer of 2012, Boakye was able to earn a call-up for the Ghanaian national team. He featured in their match against China in August and come on as a substitute to make his debut. 15 minutes after coming on, he scored. A debut goal for his country was a dream for Boakye. His impressive performances for Sassuolo during the first half of the season earned him a call up for Ghana’s friendlies and the African Cup of Nations. He scored in a friendly game against Egypt a few weeks prior to the beginning of the tournament. He was unable to make an appearance for Ghana in the CAN due to injury as they finished in 4^th place. This season Juventus decided to loan him out again, however this time to Liga BBVA club Elche. He has not been able to get much playing time only starting 2 games and being substituted on for 7 games. However, in 2 of the games he played in he was able to score. His first goal for the club came on his debut. After being substituted on in the 70^th minute, he was able to rescue a point for the club against Almeria, scoring in the 94^th minute. His 4^th appearance for the club would probably be more memorable. In the 91^st minute he scored the equalizer for Elche against Real Madrid. Elche lost the game 2-1 after a controversial penalty was awarded to Madrid. Since that goal he has only managed 81 minutes in 5 substitute appearances. However, as the season progresses I am sure he will show his talent.

Moving on to his attributes, Boakye is a player who upon first viewing seems like a great number 9. However, he is more versatile and can play as a forward on either the left or right hand side if necessary. Boakye is a player with a great build. He is tall, strong and fast. These are great attributes to have as a striker, and he has displayed this, especially at Sassuolo. He is able to hold up the play well using his strength and he has the technical abilities to thread a pass through for an oncoming teammate. However, if he is upfront along, he can use his strength and turn the defender and march on towards goal. He may not be the fastest player you have seen, but he is certainly not slow. Using his strength and pace he can turn defenders and run towards goal. I have touched on his passing; however, his passing skills go further than just lay-offs are short distance passes. He can play a lofted ball as well as cross the ball. He is very strong tactically and can see a pass very well. His shooting is where he has a slight weakness. He has a great shot from distance struck with real pace and venom. However, what he lacks the most is composure while finishing. There are several occasions where he just slashes at the ball and it sails over the goal. There are also times when he is in the box and is unable to guide his shot on target. This is not to say he is bad at finishing, because he is not. There are times where you would think this boy can produce some sublime goals; however, it is his composure and mentality in front of goal that needs working on. His height makes him an aerial threat in front of goal as well. It is not only his heading ability but also his ability to jump really high to reach the ball. With his leg power, seen in his pace, he is also able to use that to jump high to reach balls before guiding them towards goal. Finally, his movement both on and off the ball is fantastic. He might not be your best dribbler but he understands the space and is able to dribble the ball into space before getting a shot off. When not on the ball, he is constantly moving trying to find the best place to position himself in order to receive the ball. Tactically he is very smart and is able to read and understand the spaces like a striker should. Hopefully he can work on his weaknesses by getting more experience playing at a higher level as well as improving his composure in front of goal. He is not a finished product yet and still needs time developing, however I think maybe in 2 years time we will see him pull on the black and white for the Old Lady and be a big player for the club.