Africans to watch in La Liga & Bundesliga 2021-22

Ed Dove profiles the African players to keep tabs on in the Spanish and German top flights this term

Youssef En-Nesyri Despite being linked with a move to the Premier League—and specifically West Ham United—over the last year, En-Nesyri remains with Sevilla heading into the new La Liga campaign. He was one of the star performers in Spain last term, registering 18 goals overall and managing 0.7 goal contributions per 90 minutes from 0.67 expected goals per match. His haul last season was a dramatic improvement on the eight goals he registered across stints with Sevilla and Leganes last term, but can the Morocco forward build on those numbers this time around?

Taiwo Awoniyi

Finally Awoniyi has cut his ties with Liverpool once and for all, ending his six-year stay at Anfield by agreeing a permanent deal with Union Berlin. It’s a shame—but not a surprise—that he never made the breakthrough with the Reds, and now 23, he has an opportunity to really make a name for himself. He knows German football well, having represented Mainz and Union Berlin on loan, but can he build on his underwhelming return of six Bundesliga goals across the last two campaigns?

Samuel Chukwueze

In his last two full La Liga seasons, Chukwueze has registered seven goals and a further four assists, which simply isn’t enough for a player of his immense qualities. He’s been identified as something of a pet project for Villarreal boss Unai Emery, and there’s hope that the Europa League victory last term can spur the Yellow Submarine onto greater things this season. Certainly, getting the most out of Chukwueze—who begins the season injured with a hamstring problem—will be one of Emery’s key challenges.

Silas Katompa Mvumpa The ‘good’ for Silas last season was exceptional, as he broke into the Bundesliga with 11 goals, impressing with his swagger and incisive movement. However, the season ended in miserable circumstances, as he was laid out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and both suspended and fined after announcing that he had been playing under a false identity. Expect Silas to let his football do the talking upon his return to action.

Kevin-Prince Boateng 14 years after leaving Hertha Berlin for Tottenham Hotspur, Prince returns to the German capital in an emotional return to his hometown club. In the intervening years he’s taken in the likes of AC Milan and Barcelona, with two World Cup finals to boot, and now embarks on one final mission. At 34, he should still have a lot to offer.

Boulaye Dia

A new arrival at Villarreal, Dia makes the move to Spain on the back of steady progress in the French Ligue 1 with Stade de Reims. After netting seven goals during the 2019-20 season, he doubled that return the year after—weighing in with 14 goals to pique the interest of some of Europe’s heavyweights. He joins the Yellow Submarine fresh on the back of their Europa League triumph, and will surely relish the prospect of testing himself in the Champions League. “I want to have continuity and improve my level on the pitch each season,” he told journalists upon his arrival at the club. “I want to grow at Villarreal and develop my career alongside the club's triumphs and win titles. “The Champions League is the best competition, and I will prepare as much as possible for it. It helped sway me towards the club and I hope to be ready."