Ridle Baku of RB Leipzig is the latest name to be thrown into the frame when it comes to Everton right-back targets
As Everton continue their marathon search for a right-back, Ridle Baku is the latest name to enter the frame, but what could the RB Leipzig player potentially bring to the Blues?
Over six months on from David Moyes revealing: “We’ve been actively looking for a right-back for over a year,” Everton are still to get one through the door.
Nathan Patterson came close to leaving before the winter window closed and despite featuring for Scotland in the World Cup, he remains surplus to requirements. Combine that with long-serving club captain Seamus Coleman departing after 17-and-a-half years and the Blues’ need for a new recruit has grown even greater.
The return of 6ft 6in centre-back Jake O’Brien to the right-back berth for Saturday’s 2-1 win at Hamburg reiterated Everton’s need to acquire a natural option in the role. Hill Dickinson Stadium chiefs are working on a transfer to try and sign Celtic’s Alistair Johnston, who the ECHO understands has told the Scottish champions he wants to make the switch to Merseyside.
However, with that potential deal still being thrashed out – and the Blues arguably requiring two options in the position – the Athletic reports that other targets have been explored for the priority position and Baku is another who has been considered.
Baku was born in Mainz on April 8, 1998, three days before Howard Kendall’s Everton defeated Leeds United 2-0 at Goodison Park with Don Hutchison’s first goal for the club (10) and a Duncan Ferguson header (38) doubling their advantage either side of Lucas Radebe’s early sending off for the visitors. It proved to be the Blues’ final win of the season as they avoided relegation on goal difference on the final day thanks to Chelsea’s victory over Bolton Wanderers as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Coventry City.
The twin brother of left winger Makana Baku who now plays for Greek side Atromitos, he was born Bote Nzuzi Baku but nicknamed “Ridle” by his father after former Germany striker Karl-Heinz Riedle who finished his career in England at Liverpool and Fulham. The tag stuck and in 2018, Baku legally changed his name to include Ridle.
Starting off at home city club Mainz after coming up through the ranks, Baku then had a four-and-a-half year spell with Wolfsburg before joining Leipzig in January 2025. He made his international debut for Germany in a 1-0 friendly win over the Czech Republic on November 11, 2020, and has since won eight caps, scoring twice.
In terms of playing style, Comparisonator’s player profile gives Baku a 7.9 out of 10 score as a wing back. He rates at 7.6 as a two-ways full-back and 7.2 for both a playmaker back and a defensive full-back.
What is curious when looking at Premier League players from last season, Comparisonator’s Similarity search throws up stars who are more attack-minded wingers than full-backs. Baku’s closest match is Bukayo Saka on 97% followed by Jacob Murphy of Newcastle United – another player who has been linked to Everton this summer – and Amad Diallo of Manchester United, both on 95%.
Pedro Neto of Chelsea comes in at 92% and then it’s Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United on 91% and former Kop Idol Mohamed Salah of Liverpool on 90%.
We can also use Comparisonator’s Virtual Transfer tool to correlate Baku’s statistics from the Bundesliga last season against those who played in his position in the Premier League. The area where he stands out is for key passes, making 0.69 per 90 minutes which tops leader Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur on 0.58 while Everton’s James Garner comes on fourth on 0.5.
Ridle Baku's key passes in the Bundesliga last season compared to Premier League players in his position
Ridle Baku's key passes in the Bundesliga last season compared to Premier League players in his position
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Baku would rank fourth for both passes (53.63), behind leader Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool (64.31) and successful passes (45.69), where another Red Curtis Jones (56.83) is top. Although he’d only be 11th for crosses (2.31), a category topped by Porro (4.97), he climbs to sixth for successful crosses (1), just behind Garner (1.1) in a section again led by Porro (1.67).
At 0.17 for expected assists, he’d be joint top in a four-way tie with Szoboszlai, Garner and Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace, but when it comes to actual assists, he’s fifth on 0.13, with Jurrien Timber of Arsenal and Matheus Nunes of Manchester City tied for first place with 0.15.
Other attacking categories see Baku third for successful offensive actions percentage on 69% behind Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United (74%) and Diogo Dalot of Manchester United (73%) while he comes in fifth for progressive runs (1.91), a section topped by Amad, who in truth is a winger, on 3.8. Baku comes further down the pecking order for off the ball work with his 4.28 interceptions per 90 minutes ranking him 10th behind leader Aaron Wan-Bissaka of West Ham United (5.88) while he only comes 15th for successful defensive actions percentage (63%) where Jones is top on 72%.
Baku looks pretty rapid though as he’d rank fifth for both his maximum speed (35.1km/h), a section topped by Jackson Tchatchoua on 35.98km/h and sprint count (runs of over 25km/h) where he scores 22.53, with Munoz in first place on 28.23.
Overall, at 28, similar to Canada World Cup star Johnston, 27, is a senior pro seemingly at the peak of his powers so it might seem odd for Everton to acquire them both. He certainly seems to offer a different dynamic to what the Blues have currently got though with his more forward-thinking approach.
*Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising an industry leading 378 different parameters. Click here for more details.