3. Semi Ajayi
- Age: 21
- Position: Centre Back
- Squad Number: 37
- Best Quality: Aerial Composure
No longer considered one of the ‘youngsters’, 21-year-old Ajayi has made a big impact since joining from Charlton Athletic, where he impressed during a short trial period.
The defender, who purely plays centrally like Mertesacker is thought to be a player much like Under 21s captain, Isaac Hayden, and has featured on the bench for the first team already this season, during our 2-2 draw against Hull City.
With the early exit from the Capital One Cup, it looks unlikely the young man will feature again for the first team, especially with the captures of Gabriel and Bielek.
But with 18 appearances from last year under his belt, the boss certainly sees something in the Nigerian Youth International.
He is a player that likes to dominate the back line, making it clear he does his talking on the field. His aerial ability is outstanding, which is something we lack when defending set pieces, and he is never afraid to make a clearance if it is there to be made. He is a safety player, someone you know you can trust, and with the competition for a spot with Isaac Hayden each week, his mentality is only going to get better. There are question marks about his technical ability and potential to make it in the long term. Press the page numbers below to see the rest of this article.