Soungoutou Magassa: France's Next Great Midfielder?

France is a nation that has produced some of the finest midfield players ever seen. With the likes of Michel Platini, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Claude Makelele and Emmanuel Petit, all names that will be etched into the history of football forever.

And there is a name who could potentially join that list of greats in the future: 22-year-old Soungoutou Magassa.

Able to play as both a box-to-box style midfielder as well as a defensive holding midfielder and even as a centre-back, Magassa is a player who is strongly effective both in and out of possession.

Capable with both his right and left foot, Magassa can pick a pass, drive forwards with the ball and win back possession via either interception, tackle or aerial duel. Standing at 6’2”, he brings height and presence into the midfield and has earned comparisons to former Juventus and Manchester United man Paul Pogba.

Magassa, born in Stains in the suburbs of Paris in October 2003, moved to Monaco in 2018, where he joined their youth ranks. And three years later, in 2021, he signed his first professional contract with the club. Other top clubs around Europe had been interested, with both Roma and Milan making offers to the midfielder, but he chose to remain at Monaco with their first team.

Senior breakthrough

On January 2nd, 2022, Magassa would make his professional debut for Monaco, coming on as a substitute in a round of 32 Coupe de France win over Quevily-Rouen, and would go on to make 57 appearances in total for Monaco’s senior side, where he impressed in Ligue 1, with his physical presence and ability on and off the ball in the middle of the park having French media compare him to the then-banned Pogba, as well as Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo.

🚨 For clubs looking for a 6️⃣ who is a beast out of possession and composed in possession.

Go and get Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco (19) NOW!

Bookmark this post pic.twitter.com/05DHyHANtS

— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) August 18, 2023

In the 2024/25 campaign at Monaco, Magassa sat in the 99th percentile for ‘possessions won’ as per StatsBomb, putting him amongst Europe’s best when winning back possession for his team.

And his stats in possession made for good reading for data analysts too. Per Data MB, only Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Como’s Nico Paz and Jude Bellingham ranked higher last season for successful through balls.

Magassa had also impressed at the 2024 Paris Olympics with France. Where he played multiple roles and positions, including as an advanced attacking midfielder and centre-back, showcasing his versatility, and no player with more than 500 minutes played made more interceptions than Magassa during the tournament.

Move to the Premier League

Numbers don’t often lie, with numbers such as those making clear that last season Magassa was up there and around as one of the brightest young midfield players in Europe.

And it's no surprise that again, clubs were circling around the 22-year-old at Monaco, and eventually it would be West Ham who would sign Magassa for 20 million euros, bringing him to the Premier League on a long-term contract.

🚨⚒️ Soungoutou Magassa has just signed his four year contract as West Ham player. Deal 100% sealed. pic.twitter.com/8qfJOKiI6l

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 29, 2025

Although, things did not go quite so well for Magassa at first in East London. The Frenchman initially had some injury problems during the first few weeks of the season, then struggled to break into the team under manager Graham Potter when returning fit.

However, after a poor start to the season for the Hammers, Potter would be sacked and replaced with former Wolves, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

And under Santo, it was hoped that Magassa would become a much more key influence in the heart of West Ham’s midfield. The Frenchman was chosen by the Portuguese coach to start in his first match in charge of West Ham, a 1-1 draw away at Everton.

However, he would be named as a substitute in the next four games consecutively, with Nuno often opting for the duo Freddie Potts and Mataus Fernandes in his midfield. Though he would be named in the starting lineup for West Ham’s eventual 0-2 home defeat to Liverpool.

The Game That Got People Talking

Although, it would be the match following the defeat to Liverpool which would see Magassa’s time at West Ham properly kick off. West Ham travelled to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in a Thursday night clash, who had just come off the back of an impressive comeback victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Magassa was chosen to start in the midfield alongside young academy prospect Freddie Potts, with Tomas Soucek operating just ahead of the two. And Magassa would take his chance to shine, coming up with a late equaliser for the Hammers after pouncing on a loose ball following an attempted clearance by Diogo Dalot to score his first goal for the club and earn West Ham a point.

Soungoutou Magassa levels for West Ham at Old Trafford! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/dVPNetKaS1

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 4, 2025

But Magassa’s performance involved so much more than just his goal; the Frenchman was a presence all around the Old Trafford pitch. Making more tackles and interceptions than any other player throughout the game, as well as completing the most passes on the ball. Showcasing his talent in all aspects of football in one proper, complete performance.

The French midfielder’s work would not go unnoticed, with Gary Neville full of praise for Magassa during his commentary for Sky Sports. “He (Magassa) has been all action, all round the pitch. Plenty of tackles and duels won. He’s really been a destroyer out there.”

Soungoutou Magassa’s game by numbers vs. Man United:

70 touches
11 duels won [most]
8 ball recoveries [=most]
5 interceptions [most]
4 tackles won [=most]
4 fouls won
1 goal

What a performance. 💪 pic.twitter.com/EHlcyfH0eq

— Dan Woffenden (@danwoff98) December 4, 2025

Neville would also give Magassa the Player of the Match award for his performance at Old Trafford. And Magassa, Nuno and West Ham supporters will be hoping the showing in Manchester was the first of many impressive performances in Claret and Blue.

Magassa is only 22 and has still to reach the prime years of his career. And if we continue to see strong performances like he showed on Thursday night it won’t be long before Europe’s elite come calling once again.