Niels Nkounkou: Difference between revisions
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Nkounkou started his career with French club [[Stade Brestois|Brest]], coming through the club’s youth ranks before signing for Ligue 1 team [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] in 2017. As a promising youngster, Nkounkou played regularly for Marseille’s B team and had featured on the bench twice for the first team in his last season with the club and routinely trained with the senior side <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1788802/nkounkous-pride-over-ancelotti-conversation |title= Nkounkou’s Pride Over Ancelotti Conversation |publisher=Evertonfc.com |date=29 August 2020 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> before leaving to join [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal in July 2020 after rejected a professional contract from Marseille due to the sporting plan proposed by the French club wasn’t convincing for the defender and his future development.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-is-niels-nkounkou-everton-18535631 |title= Who is Niels Nkounkou? Lowdown on latest Everton and Marcel Brands signing |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=3 July 2020 |accessdate=6 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://sportwitness.co.uk/nkounkou-everton-transfer-ancelotti-marseille-juventus-leipzig/ |title= Ancelotti factor convinces player to turn down Juventus for Everton – Blues believe he ‘embodies the future’ |publisher=SportWitness |date=2 July 2020 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> The opportunity of working under [[Carlo Ancelotti]] convinced Nkounkou to join the Toffees. Nkounkou’s agent Yvan Le Mée stressed that Ancelotti called the player, spoke to him, and knew the player’s potential. By working with the player, Ancelotti can make him a top player.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://sportwitness.co.uk/agent-details-ancelotti-factors-behind-players-decision-pick-everton/ |title= Agent explains Ancelotti and other factors behind player’s decision to pick Everton |publisher=SportWitness |date=3 July 2020 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> |
Nkounkou started his career with French club [[Stade Brestois|Brest]], coming through the club’s youth ranks before signing for Ligue 1 team [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] in 2017. As a promising youngster, Nkounkou played regularly for Marseille’s B team and had featured on the bench twice for the first team in his last season with the club and routinely trained with the senior side <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1788802/nkounkous-pride-over-ancelotti-conversation |title= Nkounkou’s Pride Over Ancelotti Conversation |publisher=Evertonfc.com |date=29 August 2020 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> before leaving to join [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal in July 2020 after rejected a professional contract from Marseille due to the sporting plan proposed by the French club wasn’t convincing for the defender and his future development.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-is-niels-nkounkou-everton-18535631 |title= Who is Niels Nkounkou? Lowdown on latest Everton and Marcel Brands signing |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=3 July 2020 |accessdate=6 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://sportwitness.co.uk/nkounkou-everton-transfer-ancelotti-marseille-juventus-leipzig/ |title= Ancelotti factor convinces player to turn down Juventus for Everton – Blues believe he ‘embodies the future’ |publisher=SportWitness |date=2 July 2020 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> The opportunity of working under [[Carlo Ancelotti]] convinced Nkounkou to join the Toffees. Nkounkou’s agent Yvan Le Mée stressed that Ancelotti called the player, spoke to him, and knew the player’s potential. By working with the player, Ancelotti can make him a top player.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://sportwitness.co.uk/agent-details-ancelotti-factors-behind-players-decision-pick-everton/ |title= Agent explains Ancelotti and other factors behind player’s decision to pick Everton |publisher=SportWitness |date=3 July 2020 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> |
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Nkounkou made his professional debut for Everton in a 3-0 [[EFL Cup]] victory against [[Salford City F.C.]] in which he impressed immensely, forming an effective attacking partnership down the left hand side of the pitch with fellow youngster [[Anthony Gordon (footballer)|Anthony Gordon]] and receiving praise from many fans. <ref>https://tbrfootball.com/everton-fans-react-to-niels-nkounkou-performance-against-salford/</ref>. He put in another impressive display in his second game, also in the cup, against [[Fleetwood Town F.C.]] which he capped with |
Nkounkou made his professional debut for Everton in a 3-0 [[EFL Cup]] victory against [[Salford City F.C.]] in which he impressed immensely, forming an effective attacking partnership down the left hand side of the pitch with fellow youngster [[Anthony Gordon (footballer)|Anthony Gordon]] and receiving praise from many fans. <ref>https://tbrfootball.com/everton-fans-react-to-niels-nkounkou-performance-against-salford/</ref>. He put in another impressive display in his second game, also in the cup, against [[Fleetwood Town F.C.]] which he capped with a back-heeled assist to set up a goal for [[Moise Kean]] in a 5-2 victory.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54190607</ref> |
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==International career== |
==International career== |
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Revision as of 05:49, 24 September 2020
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Niels Nkounkou[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 November 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Pontoise, France | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Everton | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2015 | Cergy Pontoise FC | ||
| 2015–2016 | Rouen | ||
| 2016 | Cergy Pontoise FC | ||
| 2016–2017 | L'Entente SSG | ||
| 2017 | Brest | ||
| 2017–2019 | Marseille | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2020 | Marseille II | 43 | (4) |
| 2019–2020 | Marseille | 0 | (0) |
| 2020– | Everton | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | France U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2018– | France U19 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 September 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 September 2020 | |||
Niels Nkounkou (born 1 November 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Premier League club Everton.[2]
Career
Nkounkou started his career with French club Brest, coming through the club’s youth ranks before signing for Ligue 1 team Marseille in 2017. As a promising youngster, Nkounkou played regularly for Marseille’s B team and had featured on the bench twice for the first team in his last season with the club and routinely trained with the senior side [3] before leaving to join Everton on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal in July 2020 after rejected a professional contract from Marseille due to the sporting plan proposed by the French club wasn’t convincing for the defender and his future development.[4][5] The opportunity of working under Carlo Ancelotti convinced Nkounkou to join the Toffees. Nkounkou’s agent Yvan Le Mée stressed that Ancelotti called the player, spoke to him, and knew the player’s potential. By working with the player, Ancelotti can make him a top player.[6]
Nkounkou made his professional debut for Everton in a 3-0 EFL Cup victory against Salford City F.C. in which he impressed immensely, forming an effective attacking partnership down the left hand side of the pitch with fellow youngster Anthony Gordon and receiving praise from many fans. [7]. He put in another impressive display in his second game, also in the cup, against Fleetwood Town F.C. which he capped with a back-heeled assist to set up a goal for Moise Kean in a 5-2 victory.[8]
International career
Nkounkou has represented France and has been capped twice for the country’s U19 side.[9]
Style of play
Upon the signing of Nkounkou, Everton Director of Football, Marcel Brands said "Niels is a young, talented player with good technical and physical skills."[10] Jeremy Smith, a French football writer and podcaster at French Football Weekly, believed that “Nkounkou is a well-regarded young left-back who can also play further up the left flank is a little like a Benjamin Mendy in that he is strong, has a great engine and can patrol the whole flank all match and has a decent shot and cross on him too.”[11]
References
- ^ "Player Profile:Niels Nkounkou". Evertonfc.com. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ Niels Nkounkou at Soccerway
- ^ "Nkounkou's Pride Over Ancelotti Conversation". Evertonfc.com. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Who is Niels Nkounkou? Lowdown on latest Everton and Marcel Brands signing". Liverpool Echo. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Ancelotti factor convinces player to turn down Juventus for Everton – Blues believe he 'embodies the future'". SportWitness. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Agent explains Ancelotti and other factors behind player's decision to pick Everton". SportWitness. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ https://tbrfootball.com/everton-fans-react-to-niels-nkounkou-performance-against-salford/
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54190607
- ^ "What we know about new Everton signing Niels Nkounkou". Royal Blue Mersey. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Player Profile:Niels Nkounkou". Toffeeweb. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "What we know about new Everton signing Niels Nkounkou". Royal Blue Mersey. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
External links
- France profile at FFF