Liverpool has confirmed the signing of the 18-year-old Saint Etienne forward Djylian N'Guessan, but who is the teenage talent and why are the Reds keen to snap him up ahead of 2027?
Djylian N'GUESSAN of Saint Etienne prior the Ligue 2 BKT match between Guingamp and Saint Etienne at Stade du Roudourou on February 14, 2026 in Guingamp, France. (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Liverpool has confirmed the signing of Djylian N'Guessan(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has completed a deal for the 18-year-old Saint Etienne forward Djylian N'Guessan, with the club confirming the transfer nearly three days after the summer window closed.
N'Guessan will arrive at Anfield in 2027, with a pre-contract agreement in place for the teenager to arrive in January. It is understood that the deal is worth a guaranteed sum of €5.0 million ($5.8 million/£4.3 million), and the youngster has already joined Stade Brest on loan. But who is he, and why were the Reds keen to bring him in?
N'Guessan made three appearances in the French second tier last term as Saint Etienne finished third. This year, it is at the top of the standings, though N'Guessan didn't feature in the opening three games.
According to Transfermarkt, N'Guessan made 13 senior appearances for Saint Etienne in total, with several coming in the campaign before last.
In that time, he scored one goal, but he is the second-youngest player to represent the French side.
The 18-year-old is a French U20 international who featured at the World Cup at that level for his country last year, reaching the semi-finals.
Previously, he got 12 goals in 14 games at U16 level and then 11 in 11 at U17 level, and has long been identified as a player to watch.
France forward Djylian N'Guessan takes a penalty during the FIFA U20 World Cup.
France forward Djylian N'Guessan takes a penalty during the FIFA U20 World Cup.(Image: Javier TORRES / AFP via Getty Images)
Standing at around 1.80 meters tall, N'Guessan is primarily a central striker. It was his birthday last weekend, so he has only just turned 18, and there remains plenty of development for him to do.
He is also the son of the ex-Leicester, Lincoln, and Millwall forward Dany N'Guessan.
And Lionel Rouxel, one of his former coaches, described him for The Guardian as part of its NextGen series.
There, he was labeled a mix between Liverpool and France star Hugo Ekitike and the Juventus forward Jonathan David — players who are skillful and good finishers, but who are also capable of dropping deeper to link play.
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"He’s a player with two characteristics for the top level: he plays deep and moves quite well between the lines," Rouxel said. "Djylian is also a box player, who has progressed and is becoming a goalscorer."
In addition to playing through the center, N'Guessan is also capable of playing on both wings.
A similar arrangement to N'Guessan's move next year is also in place for goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, who has returned to Genk on loan after having his transfer to Anfield confirmed on deadline day.
An original version of this article was first published on August 31.