Meet Udinese's €40m rising star midfielder

Big clubs are always on the hunt for multidimensional midfielders. The allure of a CM who can contribute in different phases of play is of high importance. If said player can also be over 6’0 and have robust athleticism, then they become an even greater asset. Having jumbo sized skilled players has been beneficial throughout the history of the game, and that includes today’s era of play.

It is here where we introduce Arthur Atta, the French midfielder who previously came through Metz’ academy which has helped produce talents like Georges Mikautadze and Maxwel Cornet. Although he didn’t play a ton of minutes for them across both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, Udinese saw enough to acquire him in the summer of 2024 for an initial loan which turned into a permanent transfer last summer. Atta’s time in Italy to this point has seen some high points, helping them maintain their customary mid-table positioning.

It might be interesting to start with what Atta does off the ball, both when Udinese are in and out of possession. Out of possession, despite often playing in midfield, he’s spent time defending as part of the front three. His pressing runs have been somewhat hit or miss, due to a lack of intensity when he tries to close out on opposing defenders, along with the angles he takes. Not having the highest revving engine has also manifested itself when he is defending in midfield, including on 50-50 balls or trying to regain possession. When in position, his reported 6’2 frame does allow him to make defensive actions, including in his own third.

When Udinese have the ball, Atta tries to attempt a variety of runs to help get his team into the final third. One example is him running beyond the striker during long goal kicks to get on the end of potential flick-ons. He’ll also try to get into the box himself as a possible target for crosses, or make late arrivals around the edge of the area to find shooting opportunities from around 20 yards out. It hasn’t led to an ample amount of clear cut chances yet, although some of it is due to the attacking environment he’s in.  

Technically, Atta does have moments where he plays like someone who’s closer to 5’8 than 6’2. He’ll occasionally come deeper during buildup to help with simple distribution, which he can do ably. However, he leans more towards being an up tempo passer rather than a controller. This is especially true once possession has progressed into the middle third, as he’s constantly trying to combine with teammates for quick 1-2’s. Something you often see from Atta is the use of the outside of his foot to manufacture passing angles. He does this both during combinations, and within the final third to find forwards. It helps compensate for not often using his left foot for forward passes. When he does use his left foot, it’s been for short-range crosses 

The most consistent part of Atta’s game is his dribbling and ability to progress play individually. He can get out of tight areas with ease, including being trapped along the flank. There’s a smoothness to how he moves and covers space as a carrier. He’ll also add some flair to his quick reaction dribbles when evading incoming pressure with nutmegs or spinning away into space. These instances occur both through the middle and out wide, making him a versatile threat off the dribble. 

It’s not hard to see the building blocks of a future high-end starter in Atta. The dribbling and carrying is the furthest ahead among the skills in his repertoire, at times operating like a seasoned vet. He tries ambitious pass attempts to find openings, albeit he’s not quite automatic on those as of now. Where you’d like to see him apply more of his physical gifts is out of possession. If he’s best utilized defending as a winger rather than a midfielder, it might pose some difficulty in crafting a top notch defensive block. In comparison, off-ball movement is less of a concern for Atta, although he’s not yet someone who is a threatening box crasher.

Atta has certainly flashed the kind of upside which could make him a week in week out starter for a top level side in Italy or elsewhere in Europe. His form in particular during the beginning stretch of the season made people take notice. Rumored links began to percolate with bigger clubs taking notice. Reportedly, Udinese are looking for €40 million in a future transfer. That would be the biggest sale the Italian club has ever had, eclipsing the acquisition of Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid.

Such a transfer would carry a bit of risk. At that price, there’s less upside being captured by the team signing Atta. This is especially true for teams outside of the Premier League since they don’t have the same financial resources. With some of the defensive questions to his game, you’re hoping for him to become more impactful in the final third if deployed as the most advanced midfielder of a three or playing as a left 10. The version of Atta who could regularly produce 10+ goals and assists per season while providing ample value through dribbling and carrying is one of the better players in the league. 

Atta’s ongoing development at Udinese has brought him to an interesting point. Having turned 23 just over a month ago, he’s not far off his prime years. For the impressive things he’s able to do, there’s still uncertainty with his skill set. How much can he contribute out of possession, and in what manner? What level does he reach as a final third operator? Those are a couple of the questions which will define the next couple of years with him. If continued improvement can be made, then it won’t be long before Arthur Atta’s name is mentioned among the better midfielders in European football. 

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