After Wolves added defensive talent Nasser Djiga to their ranks, which sees the 22-year-old arriving at Molineux on a long-term deal, wolves.co.uk explores what the centre-back will bring to Vitor Pereira’s squad.
Profile
- Name: Yacouba Nasser Djiga
- Date of birth: 15th November 2002
- Position: Centre-back
- Nationality: Burkina Faso
- Previous club: Vitesse FC, FC Basel, Nimes, Crvena zvezda
- Appearances: 105
- Goals: 5
- Assists: 3
Background
Born in Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso, Djiga played his youth football with Vitesse FC in his homeland, before progressing into the senior side at 16 and helping the club to promotion. An under-20 international, he showed enough promise to take his first steps into European football with FC Basel, who signed him during the summer of 2021.
Just 18 at the time, Djiga was in and around the first team following his move to Switzerland, and later during the 2021/22 season, he earned his first senior international cap, playing in a friendly defeat to Kosovo. He has since added another seven caps and a goal to his record, with that goal earning his side a 1-1 draw against Niger in March 2024.
Djiga spent the previous two seasons away from Basel on loan, firstly joining Nimes in Ligue 2, before a successful spell at Crvena zvezda, which saw Red Star turn his loan permanent during the summer of 2024, after the centre-back became a key part of the Belgrade club’s league and cup double.
Welcome to the pack, Nasser! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/LDW13YEITo
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 4, 2025
Playing style
Having shown promise across the board throughout his young career so far, Djiga enjoys defending from the front foot, while also possessing the pace to get back too.
As a quick and aggressive centre-back, Djiga has been known to celebrate his tackles as much as strikers celebrate their goals, displaying his commitment to keeping the ball out of the net.
Featuring 16 times in the Champions League for Crvena zvezda during the last 18 months, he also shows composure on the ball which will be needed in the Premier League as he takes his first steps into English football.
Our deadline day deals ✍️
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 4, 2025
Nasser + Marshall 🐺 pic.twitter.com/H6kZVjQgxl
Recruitment
It was during Djiga’s initial loan to Nimes in the August of 2022 when Wolves’ recruitment team first started watching and reporting on the defender.
The interest in the 22-year-old progressed following his time in Belgrade, which saw Djiga claim silverware for his performances, as alongside the league title, he also picked up the club’s best young player award.
After permanently signing him in the summer, Djiga has produced good technical and physical data in both the Serbian SuperLiga as well as the Champions League, where he has faced some of the best club sides in Europe this season, while showcasing to the Wolves recruitment team that he would be a good fit into Vitor Pereira’s squad.
