Paris Saint-Germain’s youth academy continues to pump out quality standouts, and the latest jewel is center-back Joane Gadou. The 17-year-old draws comparisons to an Arsenal defender, which is why the Parisians want to hold onto him.
Gadou’s contract expires in June 2025, and Jean-Luc Vannuci, who coached the teenager in France’s U-18 team, revealed that the PSG youngster has shades of Arsenal defender William Saliba in his game.
“I can compare him to you; for me, he is very similar in skills to a William Saliba,” Vannuci said (h/t Le10Sport). “I discovered it with the 18-year-olds during the first selection. Joane develops incredible strength athletically. His great strength, he likes duels, one against one. In modern football, this is becoming more and more important. For me, it is a force of nature. That’s the physical aspect.
“On the technical aspect, there is still work to be done, but I am one of those who think that he will progress enormously with what is put in place at PSG. He’s a boy who will develop very quickly. I think he has great potential, like Saliba at the time. Joane’s big strength is that he listens, he is diligent, and he is a worker. I see him going to the high level.”
According to a recent report from RMC Sport, PSG’s eye is on securing the future of one of the brightest talents in their academy as they look to sign him to a professional contract.
With other top European clubs circling, Les Parisiens want to act quickly on a player who could become a part of their future. Although Gadou has yet to make a senior appearance for PSG, he was featured on the bench during the club’s 9-0 victory over US Revel in the Coupe de France.
