The January transfer window is open and clubs across Europe are looking to strengthen their squad heading into the second half of the season. Big clubs are often hesitant to spend money on players as this transfer window makes it difficult for them to settle in the squad. However, some teams try to sign players during this period as they are sometimes easily available or playing for a team in the lower division.
Eintracht Frankfurt have been busy in the current transfer window and brought in a few players. One of their signings during the transfer window is 20-year-old German left-back, Nathaniel Brown. The U21 international came through FC Nurnberg’s academy and was a regular in the first team this season. Let’s take a look at what impressed the Bundesliga club to sign this young talent.
Defensive qualities
Eintracht Frankfurt signed a couple of left-backs in the summer. Philipp Max returned to Germany and Niels Nkounkou was signed from the French club, St. Etienne. Frankfurt decided to further strengthen their full-back area and signed the young German.
Brown was exceptional for Nurnberg as he won most of his ground-level defensive duels. However, he struggled a bit in the air and that is usually a weakness of most full-backs. Last season, Brown won 64.5% of defensive duels, 45% of aerial duels and 47.8% of loose ball duels. This season, the defensive duels winning rate is the same but Brown struggled a biting winning his other duels. His discipline on the field is one of the strongest aspects. Nathaniel Brown has not given silly free-kicks in the final third.
One of the biggest strengths that the full-back has is his ability to recover the ball in dangerous attacking areas. In the 2022-23 and the 2023-24 seasons combined, Brown averages nearly seven recoveries per 90 minutes. Most of these have been counter-pressing recoveries and some have turned into dangerous ones as well. This is what a big team will demand more from any of their players.
Fresh legs down the flank
In the 2022-23 season, most teams feared Brown whenever he got a chance to run at them. He ended the season with an average of 2.2 progressive runs per 90 minutes and had an 86.4% accuracy rate. This season, the average number of runs has gone up to 2.7 runs but the dribble’s success rate has dropped to 53%.
The above viz highlights a full-back’s offensive contribution, particularly their involvement in moves leading to shots and their ball-carrying capabilities up the field. Brown knows how to carry the ball and is rated among the best. However, he has struggled a bit to create as many chances as he would have liked. This is what Frankfurt management will look to improve in their new full-back.
In the two seasons combined, Nathaniel Brown has three assists to his name. His shot assists map shows that the player has delivered some high-quality passes around the penalty spot. All three assists came from a similar crossing position. The player attempts around three passes into the opposition penalty box per 90 minutes.
Eintracht Frankfurt have a lot of competition for the left-back spot. Brown is an investment for the future but the player will like some game time.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine