Elye Wahi: The Montpellier star is one to watch ahead of a hot transfer summer

Four pack against OL 

It was an incredible performance by 20-year-old Elye Wahi that was only just overshadowed by former Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette. The Montpellier striker scored a four-pack in his club’s 5-4 defeat to Olympique Lyon. The Montpellier star scored all four goals in a row, but unfortunately, Lacazette’s four-pack that same evening meant that Wahi’s performance was not enough for the win. 

Nonetheless, it has been Wahi that has been all the talk following the match. And for good reason. The Montpellier forward has now scored 17 goals and five assists in 30 Ligue 1 games this season and has more than doubled his market value from €12 million to now €25m, which makes him the most valuable player playing for the French first division side. 

At first glance, Wahi might have emerged out of nowhere this season. But those who have watched Ligue 1 over the last few seasons might have seen this coming. “He is already in his third professional season for Montpellier, and his second as one of the regular starters,” Transfermarkt Area Manager France Ronan Caroff said. “His career might have had a rocky start—he was expelled by SM Caen when he was 15 for disciplinary reasons—but once he found stability at Montpellier, he quickly climbed through all the academy levels and finally made his professional debut in December 2020 when he was 17 years old.”

Montpellier star Elye Wahi: Strengths and weaknesses 

Indeed, Wahi is building off a strong 2021/22 season in which he scored ten goals and two assists in 33 games. Altogether the 20-year-old has now scored 33 goals and eight assists in 99 games across all competitions. A record that certainly needs updating very soon, especially as he has scored every 137 minutes this season.

Despite the goalscoring record, however, Caroff points out that Wahi is more of a winger than a typical center-forward. “On the pitch, he is praised for his speed and dribbling, qualities that are more common for a winger,” Caroff said. “But he is also versatile near the goal, can shoot with both feet, and heads the ball well. It is that ability to score from many different situations that make him an interesting forward.” A quick glance at all goals scored this season underlines Caroff’s observation; Wahi has scored with his right foot and left foot, from a close distance, and with his head.

According to Caroff, Wahi is a typical modern striker who can play several roles in the attack, in a similar mold to PSG star Kylian Mbappé. “All coaches he worked with as a professional have pointed out that despite his current level, he has not reached his ceiling yet,” Caroff said. “But unlike other striker prospects, he got the time to learn at the professional level and didn’t skip a level too early in his career after just a few promising months.” As for flaws, Wahi was sent off once this season, and while he is productive, he still has periods in which he goes without a goal for three to four games straight.

What is next for Wahi? Many European clubs are interested 

The final question then is about Wahi’s future. The market for forwards, in particular, is expected to heat up this summer, with many top European teams looking for a forward. Depending on the reports, Wahi is currently under contract until 2025 or 2026. “Many bigger European clubs are interested,” Caroff said. 

French-based Foot Mercato has recently linked Wahi with a move to Arsenal, Newcastle, Frankfurt, Dortmund, and RB Leipzig. And all those clubs, in one shape or form, are in need of a forward of Wahi’s qualities. Arsenal and Newcastle might be looking for more depth as they will likely qualify for the Champions League. The same is true for Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. 

Then there is Leipzig and Frankfurt. Leipzig will lose Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea and have already been linked to Lille forward Jonathan David. Frankfurt, in the meantime, might lose Randal Kolo Muani to Bayern Munich, and Wahi could indeed be the perfect replacement for his compatriot. Either way, Wahi is a name to remember as the transfer season heats up.

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