Leverkusen Secures Super Talent Below Market Value

As reported by Stefan Bienkowski earlier this week on the Gegenpressing Podcast, Bayer Leverkusen has secured their first signing of the winter transfer window in Noah Mbamba. Die Werkself confirmed that the 18-year-old Belgian youth international would join the club immediately. The midfielder has signed a contract until 2028, and Brugge will receive a small fee of around $100,000.

It is a fantastic deal for a talent with a current Transfermarkt market value of €3 million ($3.3 million). Mbamba was available on a transfer below his market value after Leverkusen had already agreed a free transfer in the summer next summer. With Mbamba’s contract set to expire in Brugge, all sides believed it was best for the talent to join the Bundesliga side now.

“Bayer 04 is known for offering young players the best opportunities to reach the highest level of soccer,” Mbamba said in a club statement. “I am very much looking forward to the coming years here.”

Securing Mbamba is a major success for Leverkusen. The defensive midfielder is considered one of the brightest talents born in 2005, and Leverkusen beat out the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, and Barcelona to his signature.

“Noah Mbamba is one of the big talents in his position as a number six in midfield,” Leverkusen’s director of sport Simon Rolfes said in a club statement. “He has outstanding technique and is tall and quick. If he continues to develop at this level, he will be able to play an important role in our Werkself in the future, given his class.”

It is an acquisition with an eye to the future. Short-term, Leverkusen has the likes of Charles Aranguiz, Exequiel Palacios, and Robert Andrich occupy that space. But Aranguiz, in particular, has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and has also expressed interest in moving back to North America.

With his 6’2 frame, Mbamba adds much-needed size to a midfield that, Andrich aside, lacks height. But Mbamba is also described as incredibly fast and can play in defensive midfield and central midfield and as a center-back.

But what exactly can Leverkusen fans expect from Mbamba? Although the sample size is small, as Brugge refused Mbamba playing time after he refused to renew his contract, Wyscout highlights what the defensive midfielder will add to the Werkself.

The number one thing that stands out when compared to the other midfielders in Leverkusen’s squad is Mbamba’s strong defensive numbers. The Belgian talent leads Andrich (6.65), Aranguiz (6.99), and Palacios (7.95) with 9.83 defensive duels per 90 minutes. Mbamba also leads the four players with 65.35% won defensive duels.

In other words, Mbamba will add some much-needed defensive steel to the squad. The Belgian midfielder does that while tactically aware and a tidy passer.

What Mbamba has been lacking is the right guidance at Brugge. That should now change under head coach Xabi Alonso. Alonso himself was a world-class no.6, winning every title on the club and national team level.

With all that in mind, Leverkusen fans should be excited about Mbamba joining the club. Leverkusen has beaten the market by signing a highly talented midfielder below market value. The skillset is currently highly sought after, and with Premier League clubs already interested, Mbamba will quickly increase his market value.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth