Player Talent Scout: Edmond Tapsoba

The Bundesliga returns this weekend and the eyes of the world will be watching as one of the best leagues in the world tries to make football work in these unprecedented times.

Bayer Leverkusen have long been one of the best clubs in Germany for developing youngsters, and they may have unearthed another gem when they signed Burkinabé Central Defender Edmond Tapsoba from Vitoria Guimarães in January.

Tapsoba joined Vitoria in 2018, and played 30 games for their B team in the 2018/19 Segunda Liga, scoring 7 times. His performances earned him a promotion to the first team for this season, and he did so well that Bayer Leverkusen splashed out €18 million to bring him to the Bay Arena in January.

The 21 year-old once again wasted no time in making the step up to a higher level and has immediately made himself an automatic starter for a club who sit in 5th place in the Bundesliga.

Tapsoba is tall and quick, but his greatest strengths are probably with the ball; he is comfortable in possession and looks to break lines by both dribbling and passing, his confidence and technique proven by the fact that he was a regular penalty taker at Vitoria, unusal for a centre back.

If he continues his form over a longer period for Bayer, he is likely to once again come to the attention of clubs higher up the food chain and based on the swift ascent he has already made in European football, there should be no reason why he cannot become a regular starter in a regular Champions League level club in the future.