Pacho hailed as PSG’s biggest transfer success since 2024

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·8 Januari 2026

Pacho hailed as PSG’s biggest transfer success since 2024

Alain Roche, former player (223 matches for PSG between 1992 and 1998) and executive at Paris Saint-Germain, was invited by L’Equipe to comment on Willian Pacho’s adaptation since his arrival in the summer of 2024 from Eintracht Frankfurt. He considers him the best Parisian signing of the period, but is waiting before placing him as the “best defender in the club’s history.” This ranking is the subject of the sports newspaper’s article.

Roche: “He has that aggressiveness but without committing fouls.”

“He arrives in a favorable context, certainly, but his ability to adapt is quite astonishing. He is the greatest success of Parisian recruitment in the last eighteen months. In the first matches, one might have thought there would be a lack of speed, but not at all. He’s clever, he knows how to position himself, he exudes immense natural strength. And you can see the difference when he’s there or not. I remember a Ligue 1 match last year where he came on and immediately, the balance of power shifted very much in our favor. He doesn’t overdo it, he’s very understated. He has that aggressiveness but without committing fouls.”

Roche: “Let’s give him more time, maybe another two years, to become the best.”

This debate about the hierarchy in history is always complicated. Because the contexts are very different. But when you win the Champions League, you inevitably become one of the best. What he’s done at PSG over the past eighteen months is exceptional. However, today, the legacy left by a Marquinhos, who’s been here for twelve years, or a Thiago Silva, who stayed eight years, is greater. Marqui is number one for his loyalty, his consistency. Thiago Silva, he’s pure class, a defender of great elegance. And Pacho, he’s the one who exudes exceptional strength. Today, he’s among the best in the club’s history. Let’s give him more time, maybe another two years, to become the best.”

Of course, playing for this PSG has its advantages. It’s filled with great players and has built an impressive collective. However, you also need great qualities to be up to the level and show a certain tactical intelligence to adapt to coach Luis Enrique’s special style of play. Being able to adapt so quickly is a real achievement.

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Pacho has even managed to improve, especially in defensive positioning and ball usage. He sometimes seemed hesitant in building from the back, but that has disappeared. He’s still not the type to “create.” But he is completely reliable and allows PSG to be calm. In his defensive contribution as well, since he knows how to cover very well and never shows any panic. There are still a few adjustments to be made when coming out to the attacker, as he gets caught out on rare occasions.

By ironing that out—and it’s normal to have areas for improvement at 24—he could further establish himself as the best in PSG’s history or the current number one in the world. This kind of debate is, in any case, very complicated. It’s hard to be objective when you have affection for the players of a club you love. But Pacho is among the world’s best, that seems quite certain.

Roche can also place him among the great successes of the transfer window, obviously. Even if there’s strong competition, notably with João Neves, a 21-year-old midfielder who also adapted very quickly and is clearly among the elite. But Pacho was a bit less expensive and was particularly unknown in France before signing.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.