Leicester City’s Kamal Sowah is a promising young prospect on loan at OH Leuven in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. But is he ready to join the Foxes?
Leicester City is known for having an exceptionally promising group of youngsters in their ranks. This includes across the whole of the club: from the senior first team squad, the under 23s squad, and the plethora of talent out on loan.
I could name several which I am excited about: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, George Hirst, Filip Benkovic, Josh Knight, Josh Eppiah, and many more. This subject of this piece is the 21-year-old – Kamal Sowah.
Kamal Sowah is a Ghanaian midfielder, he has represented them internationally on a youth level, and was brought into the King Power fold in 2018. He immediately went on loan to OH Leuven. Where he assisted their promotion push into the first division of Belgian football.
In this article, we shall look at some of his stats, his positioning, versatility, and what he could bring to the East Midlands should he not return on loan at the end of the season. We shall also give his loan spell a rating out of ten. Click below to start the slides.
Leicester City’s future midfield
It is difficult being a football club. Talent can be hard to find, retain, train, and develop. So when you have a club getting it so right for so long, the result is Leicester. Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes, Hamza Choudhury, need I go on?
The upcoming future for the King Power side inevitably involves ‘KDH‘ and – in my opinion – Kamal Sowah. Let us not forget the immense competition there is for those midfield places, with Sidnei Tavares developing very nicely for the U23s.
So Kamal, what have you been up to?
Well, as has been stated, he is currently on loan at OH Leuven, Leicester City’s sister club, owned by the Srivaddhanaprabha family. A match made in heaven. OH Leuven continues to thrive with the support of King Power, with the Belgian side currently (at the time of writing) sixth out of 18. Remember, they only just got promoted.
Kamal Sowah has been integral to this rise (credit to Transfermarkt for all data) in fortune. He has played a total of 65 games for the Belgians, from the doldrums of the second division, to the rising stars of the first division. He played 29 games in the 19/20 season, and has already reached this milestone for the 20/21 season.
He managed to score five goals and get three assists in the 19/20 season. In the current season, he has already reached eight goals and four assists. The Belgian Jupiler Pro League is not an easy league. Teams such as KRC Genk – where Wilfred Ndidi hailed from – and Club Brugge are no pushovers. Yet he has been fantastic.
Kamal Sowah: unfinished article
Not just are his statistics – in terms of direct goal contributions – fantastic, so too is the versatility of the player. Playing in eight different positions! From either wing to midfield, scoring most of his goals from the wings.
He has also played as a striker, a shadow striker, an attacking midfielder, a transitional midfielder, and an inverted winger. Goodness me that is a lot of positions to play in a single season. This shows just how important he is to the way the team plays.
Dictation of pace, integral passing lanes, most build-up attacking play, and high pressing responsibilities. These are what he has become known for in Belgium. However, it is important to realise that he is not yet a finished article.
When he first joined, he played much more centrally more regularly. His development has led him to the wings, where his pace and technical ability allows him to beat his man and create goal-scoring opportunities.
His absolute best performance was against KAA Gent. Where he scored two across 75 minutes, the only two shots he had on target by the way, making two interceptions and one key pass. He was an impressive right winger in that match, who knows where the future will lead him to play.
Leicester City: give him his debut!
Kamal Sowah has been almost too good in the Jupiler Pro League. It is my firm opinion that a player of such technical ability, pace, height, and versatility must be given his shot at the highest level of football. – the English Premier League.
Have your say!
— Elliot Mackness (@ElliotMackness) February 18, 2021
Should the #Foxes loanee @SowahKamal - playing at @OHLeuven - be brought back to the East Midlands for a debut next season?
💙🦊💙#LCFC @FoxesofLCFC
Where would he play though?
In midfield, Leicester City have Youri Tielemans, James Maddison, and Dennis Praet. On the wings, the Foxes have Harvey Barnes, Cengiz Under (for now), Ayoze Perez, and Marc Albrighton.
It may seem a little difficult to imagine where he would fit in, but hear me out. With ‘KDH’ also a shoe in to join the King Power side next season, that transitional midfield role of Tielemans has a rotation option. There are two positions where Leicester need a goal-scoring, opportunity creating, enthusiastic player.
The two wings. He can score from either wing, though he scores slightly more on the right wing. This is what the Foxes lack, a real rotation option with Barnes or Albrighton. Perez is not a great winger, better suited to an AM role, where Under is fantastic, but not defensively rated.
From what I have watched of Sowah, having him, Under, and Albrighton as our options would provide a positive balance to the wings. A defensive player in Albrighton, a penetrative player in Under, and an either side creative player in Sowah. Then of course we have Barnes who can penetrate defences and score goals on the left.
Kamal Sowah’s loan moves have been fantastic for him. He has played regular first team football all over the pitch, developed his style of play, improved his patience and defensive play, and is ready to join Leicester City’s senior team for a debut next season. FoL gives a 9/10 rating on his loan move and development – bring him to the East Midlands!