The Basics
Age: 22
Club: UD Almería
Nation: Belgium
Position: Winger
Footed: Right
Under contract until: 2025
Ramazani was born in Brussels but moved to England aged 12 to pursue his football career. He had trials at Fulham and Chelsea but ended up joining Charlton Athletic, where he spent four years before switching to Manchester United.
He made one competitive appearance for United as a late substitute in the Europa League, but left Manchester upon the expiry of his contract, signing for Almería, who were in the Spanish second division, in 2020.
Almería were promoted in his second season at the club, a campaign which Ramazani was a key part of, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in 30 appearances.
He made 33 appearances in La Liga last season, scoring three times, and adding one assist.
The winger has represented Belgium at youth level but is also of Burundian descent.
The Links
Estadio Deportivo reported in May that Villa “have scouted” Ramazani.
The Scouting Report
Strengths
One word comes to mind when watching Ramazani: Lively. He’s a proper nuisance of a player and one who will annoy opposing defences all game.
is a real confidence and youthful exuberance about his game. The Belgian plays as if he’s just a kid in a playground.
In the games he started for Almería this season, Ramazani was deployed as a second striker in the majority of them. This allows him to float around to wherever he thinks he can cause problems for the opposition.
Ramazani is a genuine speed threat and looks to stretch the back line, regularly making runs behind. He is capable of dribbling past opponents, slowing them down before gearing up and bursting past them. When driving at defenders, Ramazani forces them to back off.
In the last year, Ramazani has averaged 3.78 progressive carries per 90 minutes and 2.05 successful dribbles.
He’s an inventive player and has different flicks and tricks in his repertoire to combine with teammates. Ramazani works well with his strike partner and shows urgency to support them.
The attacker can also finish chances decisively. He has outscored his expected goals (xG) across his short career so far.
Defensively, Ramazani shows the ability to bring energy and press tenaciously. He can be seen chasing the ball from one end of the pitch to the other at times. He will spring to life and hassle the ball-carrier, stealing possession away.
Weaknesses
Ramazani is very small. Different sources have him measured between 5’4 ½” and 5’6”. This low centre of gravity helps him in some senses, it is obviously a natural disadvantage in the physical side of the game.
He’s always trying something, and while his experimentation yields brilliant results at times, it can also be frustrating.
The Belgian doesn’t think things through at times and will try an impossible pass rather than take the simple option. He is raw and his dribbling can be erratic, occasionally taking a heavy touch out of nowhere.
Ramazani’s defensive work is inconsistent. For every moment of aggressive pressing, there is another where he seems disinterested. Passes can go right by without him taking any action.
His lack of experience in top level football is another concern at the moment, with only 13 starts in a major league under his belt.
Fit With Villa
It’s difficult to see Ramazani starting for Villa right now, but he’d be a great option off the bench to play alongside Ollie Watkins and test some tired defenders.
The reports stating Villa have “scouted” Ramazani, rather than actually interested in signing him this summer, make sense. He could use more time to develop before making a big move.
He’s a very exciting player though, and if he can continue to improve, will be a hot commodity in a year’s time, when his contract will have only a year left.
Transfer Targets Series
The Villa Ramble 
Leave a comment