Former Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele is making quite the name for himself in England these days with the Blackpool ace putting up ‘excellent’ numbers in League One.
For casual observers, that FA Cup fourth round clash between Nottingham Forest and Blackpool may be have been the first time they had glimpsed Karamolo Dembele since his YouTube-breaking days in the Celtic academy.
And as Dembele squandered a glorious chance to win it at the death for the third-tier side – Forest going on to triumph in extra-time – those with only a passing understanding of EFL football may have been tempted to label him another fallen wonderkid.
Former Celtic wonderkid now at Blackpool
Ok, yes, Dembele has not quite lived up to the promise that once had French publication L’Equipe describing him as one of the ‘Wonders of European Football’ back in 2019.
But, five years on and still only 21, the one-time Hoops sensation is proving that he could still be in line for a very impressive career at a very respectable level. League One, now. Next, the Championship? And, after that, who knows? Dembele is certainly not lacking in the talent department.
“Karamoko Dembele now has three goals and eight assists in his last 17 games which, from his position, is excellent,” Ali Maxwell says on the excellent Not The Top 20 podcast.
In all competitions, Dembele has 17 goal contributions in 35 Blackpool games. With two assists in a devastating display in Saturday’s 4-1 hammering of high-flying Bolton Wanderers, The Tangerines moved to within four points of the play-off places.
‘Really impressive’
“A bit like (Watford star) Yasser Asprilla in the Championship,” Maxwell adds, likening Dembele’s role with one of the most talented young midfielders in the division above.
“I think it’s always worth pointing out that players like him – or, more generally, ‘number ten’ types – are still seen often as the creative hub of football teams. But, if you look at flat-out assists or ‘expected assists’, you will generally find that the player who generate the highest numbers are mostly wide players. Either full-backs, wing-backs or wingers.
“So for someone from a central position like Dembele to be putting up those kind of numbers (against) congested midfielders, where he picks up the ball, bursts and darts away and then threads a through ball…
“It’s really impressive what he’s doing.”
Dembele made only eight Premiership appearances for Celtic and joined French side Brest back in 2022 when his contract expired.
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