Kévin Boma – Estoril Praia’s rising defensive talisman | OneFootball

Kévin Boma is a 22-year-old Togolese centre-back, already capped six times by his national team. He arrived in Portugal in 2024/25 to join Estoril Praia from Rodez in France’s Ligue 2, in what was also Scottish coach Ian Cathro’s debut season at the Amoreira. It turned out to be a strong campaign for both, as the “Canarinhos” secured an 8th-place finish and impressed with positive tactical principles and an attractive style of play.

Cathro’s Estoril have predominantly lined up in a 3-4-3, occasionally switching to a 4-3-3. Boma has usually been deployed as the right-sided centre-back in a back three, though he has also shown the ability to adapt to either side when playing in a two-man defence. Reliable and competent, his performances stand out not only for his age but also for the way he has quickly adapted to a new country, language, and league.

Physicality and positional awareness

On the pitch, Boma has proven himself a centre-back suited to the demands of the modern game. He combines physical presence with sharp positional sense and reading of play. Strong in controlling depth, he posts solid defensive numbers — 1.24 tackles won per 90 minutes (82nd percentile) and 2.96 aerial duels won per 90 (92nd percentile).

He is a cool-headed defender, sometimes even a little reserved in his communication, but his focus and concentration are evident throughout the match. Confident in his own abilities, he knows how to use his best attributes to control opponents. His defensive commitment and tactical intelligence place him among the top centre-backs in the Primeira Liga for interceptions — 1.57 per 90 (90th percentile).

Perfect finishing school

Considering he plays for a mid-table side that occasionally pushes towards European qualification, these are highly promising figures that suggest he is ready to test himself at a higher competitive level. Under Cathro, Estoril have become an ideal school for players comfortable in possession and in managing the space behind the defence, regularly competing in a mid or mid-high block within a team built around ball possession and progression. Such a context provides the foundation for Boma to eventually become an asset at a club with greater ambitions, capable of dominating in a high defensive line.

At present, his main shortcoming lies in his passing under pressure, especially in tight spaces when Estoril sit in a low block. In those moments, options are limited and decisions must be quick and precise. This is not a question of reliability — Boma completes 92% of his short passes (60th percentile) — but rather of his ability to break lines and find teammates between the opposition’s units, accelerating transitions.

Room for improvement

In this respect, Zeno Debast of Sporting CP represents the benchmark in Portugal. The Belgian leads the league in progressive passes with an outstanding 8.13 per 90 minutes (99th percentile). By comparison, Boma records 2.04 (24th percentile). At 22, it is natural that this remains an area for development, but he needs to continue working under progressive coaches who can push him forward. He may never reach Debast’s level in terms of progression with the ball, but improving his numbers in this department would already give him the tools to succeed in more demanding environments.

Kevin Boma epitomises the profile of the modern centre-back Estoril Praia have specialised in developing: young, consistent, and with clear room for growth. His solidity in the Primeira Liga and international experience with Togo suggest a career on the rise. If he can improve his play under pressure and grow as a leader on the pitch, it is hard to imagine he will go unnoticed by clubs at a higher level. Estoril have provided the ideal platform for him to develop; the next step will be to prove he is ready to become a mainstay in a top-level defence, whether in Portugal or one of Europe’s major leagues.

FOOTNOTE: Statistics from the 2024/25 Liga Portugal Betclic season, comparing all centre-backs with at least 2,000 minutes played.