Liverpool may have completed a big-money marquee signing when they finally landed Bradley Barcola; however, the move for Djylian N’Guessan is one that feels as much about potential as it does about what the teenager has already achieved.
The 18-year-old attacker came through the Saint-Étienne academy since the age of seven, making his senior debut at just 16, but it is his performances for France’s youth teams that have really fuelled the excitement around his future.
N’Guessan scored 23 goals across the U16 and U17 levels and was named in the Team of the Tournament at the European U17 Championship, and Liverpool have agreed a deal worth around £4.3m for the forward, with N’Guessan spending the 2026/27 season on loan at Brest before officially joining the Reds in January.
To understand more about the youngster, Dan spoke to a Saint-Étienne expert about his development, his qualities, his time at the club and why he has been regarded as one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from the French side’s academy…
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On his playing style: “Djylian N’Guessan is a pure number 9, a striker. One of his best qualities is his positioning in the penalty area and his ability to finish chances. He’s not a dribbler or a pacey player, but he’s often very well positioned and skilful in front of goal.”
On his discovery: “He was recognised as a talent from a very early age. I discovered him in the U17 National team with ASSE, and he scored in almost every game. He finished one season with more than one goal per game. All the experts predicted a bright future for him, and a lot of teams followed him to try to sign him. The rest of the story was more complicated for him because Saint-Étienne tried to extend his contract but never reached an agreement with the player and his entourage. He has suffered a few injuries. He continued to score for the second team, though not as many goals as he had for the U19s and U17s. Nevertheless, he has played for numerous French youth teams, where he has consistently performed well, always displaying his trademark. Last year, he played in the World Cup with the France U20.”
Who he’s like: “If I have to compare him, N’Guessan reminds me of Lucas Stassin in his playing style. If I have to compare him to some very well-known players, he is more like strikers such as Harry Kane or Robert Lewandoski, than Mbappe or Lamine Yamal, because of his playing style.”
On the move to Liverpool: “As I said before, a lot of big clubs were keeping an eye on Djylian N’Guessan, so I think that it’s a good signing for Liverpool in the future. If N’Guessan really comes into his own, he could become a world-class striker. However, in my view, N’Guessan needs to gain experience at the highest level and build up his physical strength. In that sense, a loan move to Brest would be very beneficial for his development – provided, of course, that he gets plenty of playing time in Ligue 1.”
On his potential: “He has exceptional potential; his finishing ability and positioning in the box are rare for a player of his age. If he focuses 100% on his career and works hard, I think he could become a truly great striker. On the other hand, if injuries continue to plague him and he struggles to string together matches, his development will be more difficult.”
