How Good is Kenan Yildiz?

Kenan Yildiz is one of the most exciting attacking players in Europe at the moment, and despite his age, he’s already shining at elite level. 

Yildiz truly burst onto the scene last season, but this campaign, he’s taken his game to another level. The 20-year-old has provided 17 goals and assists combined in 29 Serie A appearances, and he’s one of the hottest properties in Europe heading into the summer transfer window. 

But what’s he good at? Should your team be targeting him? What’s his role? Hopefully, this article will answer any questions you have about the Turkish international. 

Yildiz’s Role at Juventus

Yildiz is an attacking player capable of playing in multiple positions across the forward line. Being a right-footed player that likes to cut in onto his stronger foot, Yildiz usually occupies the left-hand side of the pitch, whether that be as a natural winger or a number 10 that likes to drift towards the left-hand side.

Yildiz is a player who likes to get on the ball between the lines and make things happen, whether that be through running at players from central or wide areas, threading the final pass and generally being creative, or getting into positions to get shots off. 

Although Yildiz is a serial dribbler, regularly looking to take on his marker, he doesn’t tend to dribble for the sake of it, and he’s always looking to create opportunities for others. The Turkish forward is a good decision maker, knowing when to try and take on his man or offload to a team-mate. 

Even when playing in the number 10 position, Yildiz likes to operate in the left half-space, drifting towards the left to create space for himself and create overloads. 

Yildiz (#10) is heavily involved from an attacking sense for Juventus, with the likes of Khephren Thuram (#19) and Andrea Cambiaso (#27) always looking to get him on the ball and creating combinations with him in the final third. 

As mentioned, Yildiz isn’t looking to take players on for the sake of it, regularly looking to get past his marker in advanced positions to make something happen. His close control and speed with the ball at his feet allow him to create separation in tight areas or glide past players in one-v-one situations. 

Yildiz isn’t given too much defensive responsibility, as he’s one of those players you give a bit of leeway to, as you know he has the ability to win you a game when he’s involved in the final third. 

The Data

If you had to sum up Yildiz in three metrics, they would be goalscoring, dribbling, and creating. Everything you want from an attacking player. Yildiz is consistently looking to link up with other team-mates, and creating opportunities for others appears to be just as satisfying for him as scoring goals.

Looking at the above (dribbles completed and chances created vs u23 players in Europe’s top five leagues), Yildiz is simply one of the best out there. There are only a handful who are above him in both metrics, and he’s the type of profile that a host of clubs will be looking to sign this summer, especially given he’s yet to reach his full potential.

Where Next for Yildiz?

Yildiz has been linked with a host of clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, but where could he end up? Who should be doing everything to sign him? Where does he suit?There are two standout answers.

Firstly, Arsenal. The Gunners are crying out for a left-sided player. Eberechi Eze somewhat plays that role, but he prefers to operate as more of an interior player. Yildiz can be that touchline winger that Arsenal need, as well as being able to come into central areas. 

Arsenal have struggled with open-play chance creation this season, and Yildiz could be the answer to that, as well as being a goalscoring threat. 

The Turkish international is also a foul-winning machine, which would massively benefit Arsenal who are so well-known for their ability at set-pieces.

The next answer is Liverpool. The left-sided position in attack has been an issue for them this season. Rio Ngumoha could be the answer long-term, and he might be a reason why Liverpool opt against a move. 

Looking to the future, having Yildiz and Rio as two winger options sets them up for the next 10 years, and Yildiz is more capable of making an immediate impact, giving time for Rio to grow.

Yildiz would be an instant upgrade on Cody Gakpo, who has been regularly deployed on the left-hand side, and Liverpool should be making a move to secure his signature.

To summarise, Yildiz is one of the most exciting, up-and-coming attackers in the game at the moment, and it will be interesting to see if he makes a move this summer.