The lowdown on Yankuba Minteh

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Richie Mills

2024-07-06T06:00:00Z

Yankuba impressed on loan with Feyenoord last season.

New Brighton signing Yankuba Minteh is ready for the step up in quality the Premier League has to offer after a "remarkable transformation" on loan at Feyenoord.

That is according to Dutch football expert at Football Oranje, Michael Statham, who believes the 19-year-old is an almost unrecognisable player from the one that joined from Newcastle United in 2023.

When his loan spell at the Eredivisie outfit began last August, he was on the fringes of Arne Slot's team and was quite raw; and by the end of it, the winger had scored 11 goals, bagged six assists and was an important player under the now-Liverpool boss.

"Early on for Feyenoord, he needed to work on lots of areas of his game but he has come on so much since then. He is now very mature and full of quality. The transformation from August has been remarkable," said Statham. "It's like he's a completely different player. It feels like he joined five years ago - not one!"

The winger joined Albion on a five-year deal from Newcastle United.

Minteh caught the attention of Newcastle United after scoring four goals and notching six assists in 17 games for Danish Superliga team Odense BK in 2022/23. The Magpies signed him, then sent the Gambia international to Feyenoord on a season-long loan and this week he signed a five-year contract with Brighton.

"After doing well in Denmark, the Dutch league is a natural progression, so expectations were quite high for him when he joined," said Statham. "Could he perform in a harder league? Would he look out of place in the Champions League? He answered those questions well."

During his time at Feyenoord, Statham says Slot had a specific plan for Minteh - who was in the top five per cent of wingers and attacking midfielders in the Eredivisie for goal contributions, progressive carries, shot-creating actions, goal-creating actions, and successful take-ons last season.

"He is a fast winger who tended to play on the right wing, but could also play on the left, and was part of an effective front three at Feyenoord. Under Slot, they played a high-tempo, high-pressing system and the manager would often play him for the first 60 minutes or the last 30 minutes.

Yankuba Minteh scored ten goals in 27 league appearances for Feyenoord last season.

"Slot often rotated his players as he demanded such a high intensity from his team. Minteh grew into the season and became a player with many qualities."

Now, he will prepare for life under new Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler, with Minteh - who scored one goal in four Champions League matches last term - joining the club's talented list of wide men: including Kaoru Mitoma, Solly March and Simon Adingra.

While playing in the Premier League will test his credentials, Statham is confident the youngster will relish this opportunity to strut his stuff there.

"Physicality isn't one of his strengths because of his size but he has an abundance of speed, a cool head, can handle big crowds, and is composed in front of goal.

"Minteh was popular with Feyenoord fans in what was a successful season for him. Moving to Brighton is a nice step and moving to the Premier League is a big step.

"But he wants to take that next step in his career and produce the goals and assists he is capable of. He is an exciting player to watch."