Everton are reportedly considering RB Leipzig's Ridle Baku as they continue their search for a right-back, with data suggesting the 28-year-old plays more like an attacking winger than a traditional full-back.
Long-running search
David Moyes revealed over six months ago that the club had been actively looking for a right-back for over a year, and they are still yet to secure one. Nathan Patterson remains surplus to requirements despite featuring for Scotland at the World Cup, while Seamus Coleman departed after 17-and-a-half years at the club.
The need for a natural option was highlighted again when centre-back Jake O'Brien filled in at right-back during Saturday's 2-1 win at Hamburg. Everton are working on a deal for Celtic's Alistair Johnston, who has reportedly told the Scottish champions he wants to move to Merseyside, but with that transfer still being finalised and the club possibly needing two players in the position, other targets are being explored.
Who is Ridle Baku?
Born in Mainz on April 8, 1998, Baku is the twin brother of winger Makana Baku. He was originally named Bote Nzuzi Baku but was nicknamed 'Ridle' by his father after former Germany striker Karl-Heinz Riedle, a name he legally adopted in 2018.
He came through the ranks at Mainz before spending four-and-a-half years at Wolfsburg and joining Leipzig in January 2025. He made his Germany debut in 2020 and has earned eight caps, scoring twice.
Style and statistics
Comparisonator's player profile rates Baku 7.9 out of 10 as a wing back, 7.6 as a two-ways full-back, and 7.2 as both a playmaker back and a defensive full-back. His closest Premier League match from last season is Bukayo Saka at 97%, followed by Jacob Murphy and Amad Diallo at 95%, Pedro Neto at 92%, Bryan Mbeumo at 91%, and Mohamed Salah at 90%.
His Bundesliga stats from last season, compared to Premier League players in his position, show he excels in key passes with 0.69 per 90 minutes, ahead of Pedro Porro's 0.58. He would rank fourth for passes (53.63) and successful passes (45.69), sixth for successful crosses (1), and joint top for expected assists (0.17). For actual assists, he is fifth with 0.13.
He is third for successful offensive actions percentage (69%) and fifth for progressive runs (1.91). Defensively, he is 10th for interceptions (4.28 per 90) and 15th for successful defensive actions percentage (63%). He is also quick, ranking fifth for maximum speed (35.1 km/h) and sprint count (22.53).
At 28, Baku is a senior pro at his peak, similar to Johnston, 27. While it might seem unusual to acquire both, Baku's forward-thinking approach would offer a different dynamic to Everton's current options.
