Elye Wahi: Who is the France U21 sensation replacing Omar Marmoush at Eintracht Frankfurt?
Strike prodigy Elye Wahi has been at the top of the French game for several seasons and is now set to wow crowds in Germany with his electrifying pace and spectacular finishing. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on Eintracht Frankfurt's exciting new talent...
Data correct as of 24 January 2025
Elye Wahi
Age: 22 (born 2 January 2003)
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: Striker
Country: France (13 U21 caps, three goals)
Key stats
Born in the Paris region to Ivorian parents, Wahi began his youth career with area club Suresnes before moving north up the Seine river to Caen aged 13. Once in Normandy, the extent of his precocity became clear as he plundered a headline-grabbing 89 goals for the club's U14s and U15s in the 2016/17 season.
Naturally, word of his prodigious abilities spread around France, and in 2019 he moved to France's south-west, signing his first professional contract with Montpellier as a 16-year-old. His first call-up to France's youth set-up followed months later, and his first-team debut and maiden goal came the following season, Wahi becoming the club's youngest-ever goalscorer aged just 18 years and 13 days.
He went on to score 32 goals in 85 league appearances, notably hitting four in a single match on his way to a personal-best 19 for the season in 2022/23. Wahi was just the second teenager in the last 40 years (after a certain Kylian Mbappé) to rack up 20 Ligue 1 goals and also became the the second-youngest player ever to reach the milestone of 25 Ligue 1 goals.
Thus it was with crowd-favourite status and plenty of hype that, in 2023, Wahi made the move to the other side of the country to sign for Lens on a deal that was a record for both clubs. His stint there saw him rack up nine goals in 27 appearances, while also getting his first taste of UEFA Champions League football, notably with a goal and an assist in a home win over English giants Arsenal.
He switched clubs once again at the start of 2024/25 as he returned to the Mediterranean coast - this time signing for Marseille. Keen to shine in OM boss Roberto De Zerbi's attack-minded set-up, Wahi scored on debut as the southern giants kicked off the current campaign with a 5-1 mauling of Champions League surprise package Brest.
However, although Wahi went on to star in the 5-0 win over former side Montpellier with a goal and assist, the likes of Neal Maupay and Mason Greenwood - as well as a thigh injury - saw his game time limited in the first half of the campaign.
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Plays a bit like: Loïs Openda
Like RB Leipzig's Belgium striker, Wahi is a real goal-getter with pace to burn and a keen positional sense that makes him a threat anywhere across the attacking line. Wahi can also be devastating on the counter, with his passing game complementing his mercurial qualities to make him a double threat for goals and assists.
Also like the Leipzig man, Wahi is a right-footer with plenty of danger in his left, but when it comes to diversity of finishing, it could well be that Wahi has the edge over his fellow Lens alumnus. He scores his fair share of headers despite his 5'11" frame, but it is another kind of aerial prowess that really sets the Frenchman apart, as he very acrobatically displayed when scoring Ligue 1's Goal of the Season for Montpellier in 2022/23.
What they're saying
“We’ve been looking at Elye Wahi for some time and we are delighted that he’ll be playing for Eintracht Frankfurt now. Elye is a pacey striker who is good in the box and has a superb eye for goal. He is a young player with the potential to develop and we are confident in his qualities. At the same time, we will give him all the time he needs to adapt.” - Frankfurt board member for sport Markus Krösche
“I’m delighted to be at Eintracht. It’s a big club that I’ve heard a lot of positive things about. I knew straight away that I wanted to seize the chance to come here. I want to repay the faith that’s been shown in me with good performances and goals.” - Wahi after completing his transfer to Frankfurt
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