GFFN Awards | Why was Andrey Santos elected our Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season? | OneFootball

Andrey Santos (21) has won Get French Football News’ Young Player of the Season award. The Chelsea loanee, the beating heart in the RC Strasbourg Alsace midfield, was voted for by all but one member of the GFFN team and earned over 50% of the public vote. Here is why he won the award:

Andrey Santos’ move on loan to Strasbourg in January 2024 certainly raised eyebrows and even drew pretty fierce criticism. It was a move that came at the height of anti-BlueCo sentiment. It was difficult to see how Les Alsaciens would truly benefit from the move, and that was the fans’ contestation. The Brazilian had just come off a failed stint on loan at Nottingham Forest, was on international duty with the Brazil team, and would remain so for several weeks. It was highlighted that he would only be available for 13 games. But in his short stint in Alsace, he made an impression, and Strasbourg finished the season desperate to retain him, and they did.

Santos has kicked on this season under Liam Rosenior. Not only has he been a cheat-code out-of-possession, making the most tackles in Ligue 1 this season and the third most in Europe’s top five divisions, but he has also quickly established himself as a leader in the group, evidenced by Rosenior’s decision to hand him the armband on several occasions. His aggression has been crucial to RCSA’s out-of-possession approach, and he has also chipped in with goals, too, netting nine in Ligue 1.

Plenty of young stars have played a big role in Strasbourg’s achievement in ensuring European qualification for next season: Guéla Doué, Dilane Bakwa, Emanuel Emegha, and Diego Moreira, to name but a few. But there has been no one more important than Santos, who in this youthful side, has shown a maturity beyond his years. He could be a real asset for Chelsea next season, should he be integrated into the first-team set-up, as expected.

>> READ: All of our winners for the 2024/25 GFFN Awards

GFFN | Luke Entwistle