Valentin Atangana Edoa
Country: France/Cameroon
Date of birth: 25/08/2005 (16 years old)
Place of birth: Yaoundé (Cameroon)
Height: 173cm
Youth career: Neuvillette-Jamin, Stade Reims (since 2015)
Current club: Stade Reims
Squad number: —
Current national team: France U-17
Position: right-back, defensive midfielder, central midfielder
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): —
Tournaments participated in: 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification elite round (2/0), 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship (6/0)
Contract until: unknown
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Naby Keïta
Strengths:
– pace 
– passing
– vision
– work rate
– tackling
– maturity
– tenacity
– agility
– technique 
– ball control
– tactical intelligence
– athleticism
– versatility
To improve:
– better shooting skills would be a nice addition to his skillset
Style of play:
– box-to-box midfielder
– not the tallest player but is not afraid and feels quite comfortable in contact situations and wins many physical challenges
– can also play deeper in a more holding role or even as a right-back/can cover multiple positions effectively when needed
– excellent pace, agility, and coordination
– perfect player for a high intensity and pressing team
– likes to play short passes
– his energy and anticipation sense enable him to cover a lot of ground, press opponents, and start attacks after winning back possession
– good composure and retention skills under pressure
– in addition to his tireless running and work rate, he’s also a good passer who takes a major part in the build-up and is able to provide superb through balls
– extremely difficult to knock off the ball thanks to his strength, ability to shield the ball, and technique
– good spatial awareness and ability to read the game
– able to produce powerful and dangerous runs up field on the counter attack
– impacts the game at both the ends of the pitch
– good anticipation sense and positioning allow him to provide many key interceptions and tackles for his team
– accurate and tenacious tackler
– courageous, charismatic, and willing to sacrifice
– impressive engine and stamina
– excellent recovery pace and determination when tracking back
– mature and intelligent with a very good decision-making for a player of his age
– despite his height, he is able to win aerial duels due to his jumping technique
– operates comfortably with his left weaker foot
– very good leadership skills and winning mentality/potential captain material
Atangana wins the ball back and starts the dangerous counter-attack.
Atangana with a brilliant through ball to provide an assist to his teammate.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Central midfielder in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship winner with France.
League summary (as for 31 July 2022):
National 2 2021/2022: 4 games/0 goals (Stade Reims II)
Description:
Valentin Atangana Edoa is a product of the Stade Reims youth academy. He showed himself to a wider crowd at the 2022 European Under-17 Championship – he was one of the best midfielders at the tournament and Les Bleuets deservedly won the tournament showing a superb generation of players like Mathys Tel, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Jeanuël Belocian, Saël Kumbedi, Warren Zaire-Emery, Désiré Doué, Mamadou Sarr, and Tom Saettel. In May 2022, he signed his first professional contract with Reims and it seems that his first team debut is only a matter of short time.
Quotes:
‘Since the U-12 level, I have always been the captain of the teams in which I have played, whether at the Stade de Reims and now in the national team. I do not know if leadership is something innate or acquired over time. I would define myself as a natural leader, on and off the pitch.’
(Valentin Atangana Edoa)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
9/10 
Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.
Links: