Celta are close to signing Abdoulaye Faye

R.C. Celta de Vigo

The Celta are very close to closing one of the signings that Claudio Giráldez had identified as priorities. The player chosen to bolster the heart of the defence is Abdoulaye Faye, a 21-year-old Senegalese centre-back whose arrival only depends on the final details of the deal.

The defender is under contract with the Bayer Leverkusen until 2030, although last season he gained experience in Ligue 1 during his loan to Lorient. There, he played 19 matches and was a regular in the starting XI, although an injury kept him out for more than four months away from the pitch.

Standing at 1.91 metres, Faye stands out for his physical strength and his ability to come out on top in duels, a profile that fits the Celeste coach's plan to strengthen a defence that remains one of the market's top priorities.

One of the aspects that Faye is most valued for is his ability to defend far from the box. He is a aggressive presser, quick to step in and with the ease to regain his position thanks to his physical power. That profile fits well with teams that look to push the defensive line forward and take risks with the ball, an idea that Claudio Giráldez has tried to implement since taking charge of the Celeste dugout

Confidence that the agreement will reach a successful conclusion is high and, in fact, at the club they are considering the possibility that the player will join the squad next week for the trip to Italy to complete the pre-season tour, where he could start working under Giráldez.

If there are no last-minute setbacks, Abdoulaye Faye will be the new reinforcement for a back line that needed to add youth, physicality and room for growth.