Uriah Djedje moving from strength to strength at City

His authority amongst the U18s team has always been an apparent topic of his game, with the teenager playing a vital part in the heart of midfield.

Djedje is regarded as a powerhouse midfielder, and few players within the academy share his profile. For the teenager to be categorised as a physically imposing midfielder is an achievement, especially if you’re a fond believer of the relative age effect. 

The relative age effect (RAE) is a theory that supports older players in a high-performance environment, claiming that they are likely to perform at a better standard than younger players within a group.

Djedje, who was born in March 2006, would be considered inferior to his older teammates who share the same age because he wasn’t born between August and December, if applying this theory. 

Although there’s sufficient truth in this argument in some cases, this didn’t correlate with Djedje’s performances and engine at U18s level, with the midfielder being an integral component of the team’s defensive unit. 

A trait that has become accustomed to Djedje’s game is his power. Due to his mesomorphic build, he’s able to win a huge volume of duels in midfield areas, helping the team win a high proportion of turnovers. This was reflected at the U18s level, with the teenager winning at least ten duels per game across most games at that level.

Despite the City man's strong tackling foundations, matched with an imposing frame, his ground coverage is remarkable.

The ball-winning midfielder is blessed with longer legs, so he can run numerous kilometres a game, aiding his agility to close down opponents quicker. This catches opposition players off guard, and Djedje is fantastic at making important recovery tackles. 

With the 18-year-old offering superb reliability from a defensive aspect, he was awarded with the captain’s armband across stages of last season due to the absence of Alfie Doy.

In addition to his performances, which earned him the armband, Djedje was a reliable communicator for the U18s side, and the midfielder demanded high standards from his peers. 

Djedje will always be a midfielder with excellent anticipation levels. But, for his defensive game to reach superb standards, his tactical understanding must complement his outstanding physical work.

Although Djedje’s positioning in a mid- and deep block is particularly pleasing, he needs to judge when the right time to press arrives, as his role is significant to the wider structure. There have been occasions when the youngster has mistimed his approach during a group press, resulting in the opposition generating central territory. 

One particular topic of Djedje’s game that has developed since the start of pre-season is his ability to identify potential danger.

Uriah Djedje has improved his game in possession at Norwich City. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd)

The ball-winning midfielder has become better disciplined from a positional perspective, enabling him to intercept passes from opposition players frequently. Norwich's lack of physical destroyers at the U18s and U21s level makes him stand out even more, and his unique qualities are instrumental for the team. 

Over the last 12 months, Djedje’s ball-carrying abilities have become more refined, with the teenager showcasing confidence in driving into penetrative areas. This refinement is due to him using his body effectively, executing his body faints superbly, disguising his direction of travel, and allowing himself more space to operate within.

The other benefit of Djedje feeling confident with his body movements is that it makes it easier for him to drive away from his man quicker, as his position to receive the ball is proactive. 

Although he completes his body feints predominantly in the middle third of the pitch, his ability to plan on the half-turn and take opposition players out of play is remarkable. This has been showcased across the early stages of the season, with the game against West Ham being a perfect demonstration of Djedje’s ability to operate in tight spaces under pressure. 

Djedje relished a positive start to the 24/25 season, with the midfielder earning himself a spot in the senior team’s preseason trips abroad.

The teenager had the experience of playing against superb opposition, featuring against Standard Liege and Club Brugge. Although Djedje performed to a good standard in those two encounters, the youngster introduced himself to the fanbase in the opening game of pre-season with an impressive performance against Northampton. 

Djedje’s ability to play vertical passes through the lines was a key part of his promising performance against Northampton, with his technical game impressing a multitude of supporters.

With the youngster normally associated with his defensive qualities being the biggest attribute of his game, it was pleasing to hear the fans wax lyrical about his performance in possession. 

Since that match, he has continued to showcase his consistency on the ball, with Johannes Hoff Thorup likely to have had a serious impact on the ball-winning midfielder.

The midfielder’s intent to play vertical passes has always been recognised, but his accuracy has severely improved during the opening weeks of the campaign. It’s clear to see that Djedje has been coached tremendously well during the last twelve months, with his positive attitude marinating with his improvement in possession. 

In the opening three games of the season in PL2, Djedje’s confidence has greatly increased, especially when the ball is in deep areas.

The young midfielder has made a strong impression in Norwich City's academy. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd)

He has become a more reliable option at the heart of midfield, with the teenager improving his game from a press resistance perspective - dealing with opposition players pressing him vigorously. 

This was reflected against Nottingham Forest, with the visitors man-marking Norwich’s deep midfielders - attempting to prevent central progression. Despite this being a tricky tactic for a deep midfielder to deal with, Djedje rose to the challenge brilliantly, with his first touch and movement being key topics to overcome the aggressive Forest midfield.

Matches like these will benefit Djedje in the long run, as there will be situations at first team level where you have to be smart at manipulating the ball—especially when playing against a structured press. 

The game against West Ham last week was slightly different. The Hammers opted against a man-marking structure, allowing Djedje more time to pick out progressive passes. That extra bit of time was appreciated by the teenager, who was superb at playing vertical passes into tight areas. This allowed Norwich to be a dangerous threat on the counterattack. 

There’s no doubt that Djedje’s performances have been consistent from the start of pre-season, with the first team manager admiring his multiple attributes. This would’ve given him a significant lift, as it’ll make him realise that there’s a genuine pathway for him to progress.

With the current trajectory that the 18-year-old is displaying on the pitch, he’s got an opportunity to make his debut for the first team this season - especially with the manager willing to give the young players a chance to perform.