Darren Motsi is one of the most exciting talents brewing in Seagrave. Despite the first team’s struggles, the academy has quickly become one of the best in the country. Next to break through either at Leicester or somewhere else could be the 15-year-old who has already been training with the first team. In this, we’ll discuss more about his talents and how we got here.
Leicester City Wonderkid in Waiting: Darren Motsi Scouting Report
Profile
Motsi has quickly risen through the age groups at Leicester, reaching the pinnacle (under-21s) at just 15 years old. He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Louis Page and Jeremy Monga, who coincidentally both share a birthday with him. He can play any role in the midfield and has even plied his trade out wide for England.
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He has been representing the Three Lions from the youngest age group, which is the under-15s. His recent performances in the Vertex Cup stood out, as he managed a goal and an assist against Mexico. Despite being small in stature, he’s shown he can comfortably play against players much bigger and older than him.
Darren Motsi Stats
As a midfielder who can often play deep, output in front of goal isn’t necessarily his forte. However, this isn’t to say he’s not been making a difference in front of goal. For the under-21s, he’s managed three goals and two assists in Premier League 2 action. It’s a respectable tally, especially as the first goal made him the second-youngest goalscorer at that level.
When he scored in the following league game against Everton, he officially became the youngest player to score back-to-back goals in Premier League 2. This feat becomes all the more impressive when you think of the amount of talent to have come through the top academies, and still not managed to match him.
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He played over 1,000 minutes throughout last season in numerous cups and age groups; another impressive number considering he spent time out with injury. To put his quality into perspective, Michael Golding, who moved to Leicester from Chelsea for £4m, was often benched in place of Motsi. During Andy King and Gary Rowett’s short spells in charge, he even featured in training, further emphasising how highly the staff at Seagrave rate him.
Playing Style
As a midfielder, he can play as a number six, eight or even a number 10. In games versus Sunderland and West Ham under-21s, he was constantly dropping deep and taking the ball off the centre-backs. By doing this, he can get more time on the ball and face less pressure from the opposition. The assist for Lorenz Hutchinson against Norwich perfectly shows this, as he provides a sublime ball in behind.
This passing range is one of his best attributes, and can be incredibly key when looking to progress the ball. He also enjoys dictating play around the edge of the box, in the hopes of finding the perfect pass that leads to a goal. In this area, his crossing ability certainly stands out, with defences struggling to contain him.
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Outside of this, he also excels in tight spaces. He often escapes pressure using his deceptive changes of direction and flashy skills. This stood out during his time with England, as he was a constant outlet when playing out wide. Finally, his shooting has also been impressive. It often comes from his wand of a left foot, the best perhaps coming against Everton. He received the ball on the edge of the box, worked the angle and then wonderfully curled it into the back of the net.
Ultimately, it’s unlikely that he will still be playing for Leicester this season. Liverpool is the rumoured destination, which, if it does happen, would see Motsi follow in the footsteps of Trey Nyoni. Developing at the top academies, where he can be eased in and not need first team minutes, may be the right move. Motsi is still fairly diminutive, so that time to physically develop and adjust will be more than necessary. Look at Monga, for instance, everyone knows his talent on the ball, but in men’s football, it’s incredibly tough to deal with the senior players’ experience and strength.
Featured Image Credit:
IMAGO / Every Second Media
