James Copley: Jules Ahoka’s Sunderland debut stunned me – £8.7m deal already looks a steal
James Copley delivers his verdict on Jules Ahoka’s stunning Sunderland debut and why the £8.7m signing could prove a bargain
You do not usually see a 20-year-old with four senior appearances under his belt play one of football’s most demanding and mentally challenging positions so well.
That is why Jules Ahoka’s Sunderland debut against Hull City stunned me. The midfielder arrived from Royal Antwerp with potential but virtually no first-team experience. Sunderland then asked him to operate as the number six, a role carrying enormous tactical responsibility in Régis Le Bris’ system. Ahoka looked as though he had been doing it at this level for years.
The biggest compliment I can pay him is that his inexperience never showed. He played with a maturity rarely seen in someone at such an early stage of his career, repeatedly accepting possession in crowded areas and finding a way out. Receiving the ball under pressure was the most impressive part of his performance. Hull tried to close him down, but Ahoka did not panic or simply knock the ball back towards his defenders. He turned away from trouble time after time and gave Sunderland a route through the pressure.
That requires technical quality, awareness and courage. A number six must constantly scan what is around him because one loose touch or poor decision can expose the team. Ahoka appeared comfortable with that responsibility. Ahoka completed 50 passes with an 88 per cent success rate, found his target with all three attempted long balls and completed his only dribble.
He also made three tackles, three interceptions, five clearances, one block and four recoveries. Ahoka won five of eight ground duels and four of six aerial contests, while recording 12 defensive continuations. Those figures show the completeness of his display. He was not merely tidy in possession or physically imposing at 6ft 3in. He influenced almost every defensive area while providing the composure required to connect Sunderland’s play.
There will be far harder tests ahead, and it would be unfair to draw sweeping conclusions from one Carabao Cup appearance against a much-changed Tigers side. Ahoka remains raw and will inevitably make mistakes as the level rises. Yet the contrast between his background and the player who appeared against Hull was remarkable. Knowing he had played four senior games, I expected talent mixed with visible signs of inexperience.
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.
Instead, Sunderland appeared to have found a midfielder who already understands space, pressure and responsibility. His arrival is indicative of Sunderland’s wider scouting strategy. The club are prepared to invest in emerging players before their value becomes obvious, trusting their recruitment department to identify qualities that limited senior minutes can hide.
The reported €10million fee equates to roughly £8.7million. That represents substantial money for potential, but Premier League clubs pay premiums for young players with Ahoka’s physical and technical profile. No transfer can be judged after one night. In three years, though, that figure could look remarkably small. If Ahoka develops as Sunderland believe he can, his Hull debut may be remembered as the first glimpse of an outstanding piece of recruitment by director of football Florent Ghisolfi and the wider scouting team.