Out of nowhere, Tottenham Hotspur have a new player on their books. But who is Wilson Odobert, and why should Spurs fans be excited?
Spurs were known to be looking to add a new winger to their squad this summer, but Odobert was not a name that was mentioned at all among the rumour mill. And then, on August 16, the club dropped the announcement they had agreed a deal for the Burnley teenager.
It is thought the deal cost an initial £25m, with a further £5m in add-ons (Alasdair Gold). So, was it worth it? Here’s what we know.
Name: Wilson Serge Eric Odobert
Age: 19-years-old
Place of birth: Meaux, France
Current club: Tottenham Hotspur
Former club(s): Burnley, Troyes, PSG (youth)
International appearances: 19 caps for France youth sides, three goals (Transfermarkt)
Club appearances: 66 senior appearances, nine goals (Transfermarkt)
Career stats
Odobert had a great first season in England with Burnley last year, and made a decent impression in the Premier League. He played 33 times for the Turf Moor outfit, scoring four goals and registering three assists (Transfermarkt).
That’s not too shabby for a teenager playing in the top flight of English football for the first time. He was unable to keep Burnley in the Premier League, but was definitely one of the bright sparks in their season.
A particularly exciting fact from last season, Odobert ranked fourth among teenagers in Europe’s top five leagues for most successful dribbles, completing 53 across the campaign (WhoScored).
Prior to that, in the 2022/23 season, Odobert registered four goals and two assists in 32 games for Troyes in Ligue 1. According to FBRef’s Ligue 1 statistics, Odobert had a 51.9% shots on target rate, putting him 10th in the division.
Strengths and weaknesses
One of the key facets of Odobert’s game is dribbling, as you can see from the statistics from last season. He’s got a low centre of gravity, is really agile, and has nice close ball control, plus a few tricks and skills to boot.
He’s a real touchline-hugging, old-school style of winger most of the time, but he’s not afraid to cut inside from either wing, making him ideal for Ange Postecoglou. Odobert has a great shot on him, too and loves to take a hit from long distance (just look at his goal from last season, below, for proof).
His pace makes him a valuable asset on the counter-attack, too, which will again prove useful in Postecoglou’s fast-paced system.
One thing we shouldn’t really expect from Odobert is defensive contributions, though. He’s not keen on making a tackle, and often prefers to stay higher up the pitch waiting for the ball — not the end of the world for a winger, in fairness.
What are people saying about Wilson Odobert?
Last season, former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany made it very clear how promising a talent Odobert was, telling Burnley Express, “I will almost refrain from what I really think about him, because at this moment in time, I don’t think people realise how good he is.”
According to the Premier League Panel on X, Spurs have signed a player whose “dribbling style is Sterling-esque with how he jinks in & then jinks back out of his full-back at high speed.”
One Spurs fan tweeted saying Odobert is “perfect for Ange’s system,” while another said “he’s a better dribbler than all our senior wide options right now.”
Antonio Mango described Odobert as a “dribbling demon” who is “strong technically” and “versatile.”
What do The Spurs Web think?
Like most of our signings, if Ange and the data team are happy, I’m happy. Odobert has plenty of potential, and has already shown he can do damage in the Premier League despite his age. I think he offers something different to our current wingers, too, which is always exciting.