At the beginning of May, Bayer Leverkusen officially announced the signing of talented Algerian midfielder Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin, activating a €12 million release clause in his contract to secure his services.
The 2023/2024 German champions made the move quickly, given the interest Maza was garnering with the summer transfer window looming.
With Florian Wirtz likely to leave for Liverpool, its possible that the new-look Leverkusen under Erik ten Hag could have Maza as his potential successor as they look to regenerate the squad with fresh, exciting talent, which the Algerian international falls into.
This scout report and player analysis will examine Mazas qualities and what he can bring to Leverkusen as they potentially begin a post-Wirtz era next season.
Who Is Ibrahim Maza?
Ibrahim Maza is a 19-year-old attacking midfielder who is 511 (180 cm or 1.80 m) and weighs 154 lbs (70 kg).
While his primary position is playing as the most advanced midfielder behind a striker, he can also play a little deeper, which he did throughout this season as an attack-minded #8, or central midfielder, in Herthas 4-3-3 scheme.
He can also play on the left wing, cutting in on his stronger right foot as an inverted winger.
Formerly a German youth international, Maza committed his international allegiance to Algeria in 2024, making his senior competitive debut in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier last October.
The Berlin-born youngster joined capital club Hertha at the age of 12 in 2018.
He went on to earn his first professional contract and debut for the club half a decade later, in 2023.
Since then, Maza has established himself as one of the most exciting young offensive players in the 2. Bundesliga, particularly breaking through in 2024/2025 by scoring and assisting others to get double digits in direct goal contributions.
His performances this term, his low release clause, and his age made him an attractive option, with numerous clubs linked to him before he eventually put pen to paper to sign with Leverkusen last month.
So, what will the promising Maza bring to his new club?
Lets examine the data for his 2024/2025 season and consider some of his strengths and areas for improvement.
Ibrahim Maza Radar Map 2024/2025
Looking at this radar map of his season as a whole, the metric in which Maza performed strongest was in his dribbling, one of his strongest assets, where he ranked in the 84th percentile in per-90 contributions.
He also ranked well in shots per 90 and progressive and dangerous passes per 90, all in the 72nd percentile or higher.
What stands out a little surprisingly, though, is his defensive numbers.
He ranked in the 82nd peKeep Reading TFA With A Free 7 Day Trial
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