Player Analysis: Yusuf Yazıcı

Ever since he broke into the first team at Trabzonspor, I have been a big fan of Yusuf Yazıcı. That feels strange given we were born in the same year, but you don’t want to hear much more about me. I can’t blame you, as Mr Yazıcı is undeniably far more exciting.

To start with, his surname. To aid all you non-Turkish speakers, it is pronounced Yaz-udge-jer. With that potential faux pas out of the way, onto answering your burning question of ‘what sort of player is he?’

In short, Yazıcı is an attacking midfielder who can play on either flank but is best utilised down the middle. His main asset is his left foot, in which he possesses phenomenal power. He loves to shoot from distance and is also very proficient from set pieces. In open play the Turk has excellent close control, plus the vision to operate effortlessly between the lines.

His journey began at the start of 1997. Born on 29 January, Yazıcı hails from the city of Trabzon- where he would later make his name. At the age of ten, he joined Trabzonspor’s academy, before breaking into their first team in 2015.