Everton have confirmed the the departure of French left-back Niels Nkounkou after a difficult three-year stint with the club.
Nkounkou joined Everton from Marseille B, signing a three-year contract. He has struggled at Goodison Park, making just two appearances for the club.
Nkounkou expended much of his three-year career with Everton on loan spells. He was loaned to Standard Liege in Belgium, Cardiff City, in the English Championships, and then to Ligue 1 side, Saint Etienne.
In an official statement from the club, Everton confirmed Niels Nkounkou has left the club to join Saint Etienne for an undisclosed fee after the latter triggered the buyout option in his loan move to make the deal permanent.
The club statement reads;
“Nkounkou will join Saint Etienne for an undisclosed fee after the French club took up the option to sign the left-back on a permanent transfer.”
Who is Niels Nkounkou?
Niels Nkounkou is a French professional footballer playing for Ligue 2 club Saint Etienne as a left back. He is yet to make an appearance for France senior national team but has played at youth levels, including an appearance in France Olympic team in 2021.
Niels Nkounkou started his football career in 2006, playing for Cergy Pontoise youth before joining Brest and Marseille Academy in 2016 and 2017.
After a scintillating and outstanding outing with Marseille Academy, Nkounkou made his first senior club appearance for Marseille reserve team in 2017. He made 44 appearances for the team in his three-year stint before joining Premier League club, Everton, in 2020.
At Everton, Nkounkou saw a drastic decline in his career. He made just 2 appearances for the club in his three years spell and was sent on loan to Standard Liege in 2021, Cardiff City in 2022, and Saint Etienne in 2023.
At Saint Etienne, Nkounkou seems to have breath life into his career, making 19 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals.
His loan spell with the French Ligue 2 side which was set to expire this summer, included a buyout option before the club moves to make the deal permanent.
Nkounkou has played for France U-18, U-19, and U-21 levels, including France Olympic team. He is yet to make his first appearance for the France senior national team.
Niels Nkounkou style of play
Niels Nkounkou plays mainly as a left-back. He can go further up the wing on attacking role and is well suited for deep pressing teams with a flair for a more attacking football. He can play as attacking wing-back and has good technical and physical abilities.
Honours
Niels Nkounkou is yet to win a trophy in his nascent football career. He made 2022/23 French Ligue 2 Team of the Season.
Niels Nkounkou Everton Contract
Niels Nkounkou signed a three-year contract with Everton in 2020 worth £690,000. His annual earnings at the club was £230,000 with his weekly wage estimated at £4,423. His estimated net worth as of 2023 is £3.5m.
Nkounkou has signed a three-year contract with Saint Etienne with the financial details of the new deal undisclosed.
