Best Premier League Signings of 20/21 – West Ham man will surprise you

Wesley Fofana – Leicester City

Fofana, a name that was largely unfamiliar to those outside the scope of Ligue 1 prior to this season, is yet another French prospect being churned from the ever-growing talent pool of the nation.

Almost like a conveyor belt, defenders keep propping up across France who takes the mantle of the best centre-back year in, year out.

To note, France U21 played in the U-21 Euros this past month and a starting CB pairing of Jules Koundé & Benoît Badiashile was preferred by Sylvain Ripoll with budding talents in Pierre Kalulu, Wesley Fofana, Boubacar Kamara and Ibrahima Konaté on the bench. That is crazy.

A player who was relatively raw coming out of Saint-Etienne was the final piece in Brendan Rodgers’ rejuvenated defence with fellow teammate Timothy Castagne another with an outside shot of being on this list having been signed late last year.

His composure is something of a player beyond his years, elite athleticism, deceptive quickness coupled with strength all point to attributes of a top defender in the making.

Leicester City were known to have had eyes on the young Frenchman for a while and have formally scouted him year-long. Fofana had the Premier League salivating before ever signing a professional contract with interest being registered by Everton and Watford.

A surprising notion for many were that his style of play revolved around the use of his strength, something which Premier League supposedly holds a much higher level of as opposed to that of Ligue 1.

However, Fofana has rubbished those quibbles and is putting up 2.4 interceptions, a 60% aerial success rate and 1.8 tackles per 90, all in 19 starts. Wesley Fofana oozes poise and is a talent of which many at the top of the game are simply covetous of.