CJ Egan-Riley
Trained at Guardiola’s school, voted the best defender in the Championship, and arrived on a free transfer. What if he is the stroke of genius of the transfer market?
When a player graduates from Manchester City's academy, you can expect a certain technical elegance. CJ Egan-Riley embodies that pedigree. But he's not just a promise. Last season, he was one of the key players in Burnley's promotion, to the point of being named in the Championship's team of the season, a league known for its toughness. The best part? He arrived on a free transfer. He turned down a "significant contract" from his club to join us, attracted by the De Zerbi project and the Champions League. It's the sign of an intelligent and ambitious player.
His profile is that of the modern defender: "solid and calm on the ball", with passing stats that place him at the top of the class. His versatility is a major asset, as he can play in central defense, on the right side, or even as a defensive midfielder. For a coach who loves tactical flexibility, it's a blessing. His main area for improvement remains aerial duels, where he is not dominant. His arrival may symbolize a shift in our recruitment strategy: smarter, more targeted. We're no longer just looking for names, but for high-potential profiles that fit a specific playing philosophy.
We don't expect him to be the leader from day one. He's here to learn, to bring competition, and to challenge the hierarchy. His challenge will be to prove that the calm and composure displayed in England can withstand the Vélodrome's heat and the pressure of big game nights. It's an investment for the future, a talent to be polished. But given his track record, we have every reason to be optimistic.
- Appearances
- 3
- Matches Started
- 3
- Minutes Played
- 209
Disciplinary Statistics
- Yellow Cards
- 0
- Direct Red Cards
- 1
- Red Cards
- 1
- Yellow Red Cards
- 0
| Attacking Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Big Chances Created | 1 |
| Big Chances Missed | 0 |
| Total Shots | 0 |
| Shots On Target | 0 |
| Blocked Shots | 0 |
| Goal Conversion Percentage | 0.00 |
| Penalties Taken | 0 |
| Penalty Goals | 0 |
| Penalties Won | 0 |
| Penalties Conceded | 0 |
| Shots From Set Piece | 0 |
| Free Kick Goals | 0 |
| Goals From Inside The Box | 0 |
| Goals From Outside The Box | 0 |
| Shots From Inside The Box | 0 |
| Shots From Outside The Box | 0 |
| Headed Goals | 0 |
| Left Foot Goals | 0 |
| Right Foot Goals | 0 |
| Own Goals | 0 |
| Offsides | 0 |
| Hit Woodwork | 0 |
| Passing Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Accurate Passes | 178 |
| Inaccurate Passes | 13 |
| Total Passes | 191 |
| Accurate Passes Percentage | 93.19 |
| Accurate Own Half Passes | 104 |
| Accurate Opposition Half Passes | 74 |
| Accurate Final Third Passes | 22 |
| Key Passes | 2 |
| Accurate Crosses | 0 |
| Accurate Crosses Percentage | 0.00 |
| Total Crosses | 1 |
| Accurate Long Balls | 4 |
| Accurate Long Balls Percentage | 50.00 |
| Total Long Balls | 8 |
| Total Chipped Passes | 6 |
| Accurate Chipped Passes | 4 |
| Passes To Assist | 0 |
| Total Own Half Passes | 110 |
| Total Opposition Half Passes | 82 |
| Defensive Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Tackles | 4 |
| Tackles Won | 2 |
| Tackles Won Percentage | 50.00 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Clearances | 9 |
| Errors Leading To Goal | 0 |
| Errors Leading To Shot | 1 |
| Dispossessed | 0 |
| Possession Lost | 18 |
| Possession Won In Attacking Third | 0 |
| Duels Lost | 4 |
| Aerial Duels Lost | 1 |
| Ground Duels Won | 7 |
| Ground Duels Won Percentage | 70.00 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 1 |
| Aerial Duels Won Percentage | 50.00 |
| Total Duels Won | 8 |
| Total Duels Won Percentage | 66.67 |
| Dribbled Past | 0 |
| Miscellaneous Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Touches | 226 |
| Was Fouled | 2 |
| Fouls | 1 |
| Successful Dribbles | 1 |
| Successful Dribbles Percentage | 33.33 |
| Total Contests | 3 |
| Ball Recoveries | 8 |
| Team Of The Week Appearances | 0 |
| Scoring Frequency | 0 |
| Penalty Conversion | 0.00 |
| Set Piece Conversion | 0.00 |
| Penalty Attempts Missed | 0 |
| Penalty Attempts Hitting Post | 0 |
| Penalty Attempts On Target | 0 |