Following in the footsteps of Michael Essien and Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ernest Nuamah looks like being the next Ghana international to flourish in Ligue 1 Uber Eats after joining Lyon this season.
Back story
The Right to Dream Academy in eastern Ghana has already provided the French top flight with two talents, Majeed Waris at Nantes and Sulemana at Rennes, but Nuamah could well be the most successful graduate so far.
Following in the footsteps of Sulemana, Nuamah's first stop in Europe was at Danish club Nordsjaelland where in just 18 months he transformed from exciting prospect to Denmark's Player and Young Player of the Year.
He actually opened the 2023/24 season still as a Nordsjaelland player - scoring a hat-trick on the opening day of the campaign - before a switch to Molenbeek and an immediate loan to the Belgian outfit's sister club, OL, made him the Danish side's biggest sale with the final price tag potentially pushing €30 million.
Style of play
Nuamah is the sort of player that gets fans off their seats. Pacy, tricky, and with a keen eye for a goal and a pass, what more could you ask for in a winger? Though still a touch raw, his potential is huge. Naturally left-footed, he likes to cut inside to shoot at goal, but his right foot is certainly more than just for standing on. OL fans will surely see - and enjoy - sharp link-up play with the likes of Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette in the final third.
Current campaign
Compatriot Essien, who is now part of the Nordsjaelland coaching staff, came to Lyon having already settled into life in France with Bastia, but OL's new arrival - just 19 years old when he put pen to paper on his contract - may well need time to adapt. At the time of writing, he has made just one Ligue 1 Uber Eats appearance, but his performances in Denmark last season certainly bode well.
He has certainly come into the new campaign in fine form on the international front. In September, he came off the bench to earn his second Black Stars cap and scored a late winner against the Central African Republic to claim a victory that also qualified his country for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Days later, Nuamah followed that up with a superb strike (see above) as he made his first start for his country in a 3-1 friendly win over Liberia.
What they're saying
"He'll contribute what he's good at. He's very quick, has a lot of energy, and he'll give competition for places up front. It'll be a very good thing for us." ex-Lyon coach Laurent Blanc
"He can certainly become our next great player. He has top-level individual qualities. His acceleration and strength are exceptional. He has played a large role in our success, because he draws opponents to him thanks to his pace. He's a constant threat, so opponents have to keep an eye on him at all times." former Nordsjaelland coach Flemming Pedersen
