The Dutch striker has been one of the breakout stars of the Ligue 1 season, and is now being linked with a summer move to the Premier League
The battle to sign Europe's best No.9s is set to be intense this summer. Plenty of the richest clubs in the world are in need of a new striker, and there are set to be a whole host on the market, albeit available at extortionate prices. Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak are among the most coveted, but there are those who might be able to produce similar results who will be available for more palatable fees.
One of those potential hidden gems is Emanuel Emegha, the 22-year-old forward who has been lighting up Ligue 1 for Strasbourg this season. The Dutchman has scored 14 goals and provided three assists in 27 league appearances in 2024-25, with only four players having found the net more often in the French top-flight. That form has spearheaded Strasbourg's push towards European football, as they currently sit sixth in the table, though only goal difference separates them from a Champions League qualification berth with two rounds of games to play.
Unsurprisingly, Emegha's form has seen him linked with some of the continent's biggest teams, and it seems likely that a summer switch is in his future. But who is Emegha, and why did it take so long for him to emerge as one of the Europe's hottest forwards? GOAL has everything you need to know…
AFPWhere it all began
Emanuel and his twin brother, Joshua, grew up in the Schilderswijk neighbourhood in The Hague. The area is renowned for its high levels of crime and poverty, but Emegha was able to express himself through football, and at the age of 11 was picked up by Sparta Rotterdam's academy.
Having grown up in a rough area and without his father, Emegha struggled with behavioural problems and was labelled an 'enfant terrible' by his former youth coach Paul Simonis. However, under Simonis' tutelage, the youngster was able to develop as both a person and a footballer, and Emegha now credits the current Go Ahead Eagles coach for putting him on the right path to succeed.
Having impressed though the age-group sides, Emegha made his senior Sparta debut at the age of 17 against Ajax, and he soon followed that up with his first professional goal against Vitesse, which he dedicated to his former team-mate Ousmane Kone who tragically lost his life during a team outing.
That would be one of only three goals Emegha would score in his 39 appearances for De Kasteelheren before his departure in January 2022.
AdvertisementAFPThe big break
Emegha felt the time was right to take the next step in his career, and joined Belgian side Royal Antwerp. However, he failed to impress his new employers, and Emegha made just one solitary substitute appearance during the second half of the campaign before it was decided that he would be free to leave the club less than six months after his arrival.
Sturm Graz swooped in to give Emegha an opportunity, and he grasped it with both hands as he netted 10 goals and provided five assists 36 matches for the Austrian outfit. That form was enough to convince Strasbourg to pay €13 million (£11m/$14.7m) and bring Emegha to France in the summer of 2023.
AFPHow it's going
Having scored eight league goals during his debut season at BlueCo-owned Strasbourg, Emegha has taken his game to new levels in 2024-25. Only Ousmane Dembele, Mason Greenwood, Jonathan David and Arnaud Kalimuendo have found the net on more occasions in Ligue 1 this term, with the Dutchman's form since the turn of the year (11 goals in 17 appearances) particularly impressive.
Emegha's form has helped take Strasbourg on a 12-match unbeaten run which began in early February, as former Hull City manager Liam Rosenior has been able to lift one of Europe's youngest squads to the cusp of European qualification.
Biggest strengths
Emegha has been likened to Victor Osimhen in recent times, and it is easy to see why. Both are stronger than their slim builds would suggest, possess enormous work ethic and position themselves well to ensure they get plenty of chances in front of goal. Emegha is also unselfish and always looks to team-mates if he feels they are in a better position to find the net.
Unsurprisingly given his form, Emegha is brimming with confidence, and though he could improve his conversion rate, there's no doubt that he is feeling himself after the best campaign of his short career to date.
No more clearly could that be seen than after January's draw with Marseille, during which Emegha had opened the scoring, he attacked OM defender Leonardo Balerdi in the media having been involved with a heated exchange with the Argentine on the pitch.
"Balerdi couldn't keep up with me, so he tried to distract me by talking and grabbing me. That's petty behaviour. That's not football. Play the game normally," Emegha told post-match.