Mikayil Faye: The teenage defensive sensation who could be the future of Barcelona – scout report

A lot has been said about Barcelona’s finances and reported transfer ban, but that hasn’t stopped them from planning for the future. Most recently, they have beaten some top European clubs like Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund to sign 18-year-old defender Mikayil Faye, who has impressed this season during his time at NK Kustojia: Croatia’s second tier of football.

If this is the first you’re hearing of the youngster and feel surprised at La Liga giants Barca dipping into the second tier of Croatian football for future talent, it may surprise you even more to learn that Faye’s club, Kustosija, finished second-to-bottom in the 2022/23 season, finding themselves in the division’s relegation play-off system. If anything, this speaks volumes of how highly he is rated, evidenced further by the clutch of Champions League clubs chasing his signature.

It is believed that he will enter Barcelona’s second team (Barcelona Atlétic) first to continue to gain experience, with first-team manager Xavi keeping a close eye on his development.

This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of the defender, providing you with some insight as to how he has featured this season, while also discussing what role he may play in Barca’s tactics in a couple of years’ time. We will give an oversight into his profile  his position, physical factors and general role notes, before looking at what he can offer in possession. Finally, there will be an analysis of his defensive ability.

Player overview

So just who is Mikayil Faye? The 18-year-old has experienced his first campaign in European club football with Kustosija but has only been present for the later stages of the season, having joined the club in February from Senegalese side Diambars FC. Faye is a former Senegal U17 international, playing in both the U17 World Cup and the U17 Africa Cup of Nations back in 2019, so his potential has been realised by those dealing with the National teams as well as Europe’s big dogs.

As you may have guessed by looking at his heat map from the 2922/23 season, Faye is a left-footed defender, capable of playing as a central defender or a left-back. Thus, he has a well-rounded set of technical attributes while also possessing the necessary physical elements as well. Standing at 6’1”, he offers a good physical presence thanks to his strength and decent aerial ability, enabling him to compete effectively in aerial and defensive duels. And we can’t forget to mention his pace: Faye looks a ridiculously quick individual in Croatia’s second tier and it will be interesting to see if that translates to a higher level of the game.

Other important notes about his game include his powerful long throws, his confidence in taking free kicks from shooting range, and his composure in pressure situations on the ball.