Who is Antonio Nusa? - Brentford set to sign next Jérémy Doku from Brugge

With Ivan Toney back and firing for Brentford, the Bees are now on the verge of signing another forward—a player who might be more of a long-term project. As confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, Brentford have reached an agreement with Club Brugge to sign winger Antonio Nusa for deal for around €33 million plus €4m in bonuses. The 18-year-old is under contract until 2027 and, despite a potential transfer, is expected to finish the season on loan in the Jupiler Pro League with Club Brugge. 

The total transfer fee for the Norwegian national team player would make Nusa, who was signed in 2021 for just €3m from Stabæk Fotball, the most expensive outgoing transfer in Brugge’s club history beating the €36.5m deal for Charles De Ketelaere (overview) to AC Milan—it would also make him the most expensive outgoing transfer in Jupiler Pro League history. The player would also stand as Brentford's record signing, beating the €26.85m they paid Wolves for defender Nathan Colllins. 

Brentford had become the latest Premier League club to have registered a serious interest in Nusa last week. Last summer, Arsenal and Liverpool were also linked with a transfer, and Brugge turned down a €30m offer from Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window. Last summer, the winger himself agreed with his advisors that he would like to spend one more season in Brugge. The upcoming transfer isn’t going to change that fact as he will be loaned back by Brentford. Then, in the summer, Nusa wants to fulfill his dream of playing in the Premier League. “The best and most beautiful league in the world,” Nusa said during the training camp. 

Comparable to Jérémy Doku – Antonio Nusa is the biggest talent in Belgium

Without a doubt, Brentford will receive a player with plenty of potential, but there are also areas the Norwegian must improve in. “Nusa is a right-footed left-winger and is considered one of the biggest talents in Belgium,” Transfermarkt Area Manager for Belgium, Bart Tamsyn, said. “He can dribble fantastically and has decent acceleration, even with the ball at his foot. He needs to become more efficient, though. With three goals and three assists in 26 games, you will not become a top player in the Premier League. He also had to deal with injuries regularly at a young age. He's missed eight games already this season due to a back injury and regularly had to start on the bench because he was not fit enough to play.”

Indeed, a glimpse in the Transfermarkt database reveals that Musa missed 13 games for club and country over the last two seasons (overview). That might not be an extraordinary number, but a worrying trend that Brentford bosses will have to keep an eye on. As for the positives, the Bees will undoubtedly get a dynamic player with strong one-v-one skills. Although his production has been limited, according to Wyscout, Nusa is currently third in the league with 133 dribbles and first with 15.19 dribbles per 90 minutes. The flipside is that Nusa only ranks 28th in the league with 54.14% successful dribbles. The 18-year-old also ranks third in the league with 4.45 progressive runs per 90 minutes. In other words, there is a dynamic player there that, with some strong direction by head coach Thomas Frank could turn into a very compelling dynamic winger.  

The other question is how he will fit in at Brentford. “He is at his best in a 4-3-3 system; in 3-5-2, he has a bit too many defensive tasks,” Tamsyn said. “Not that he is not willing to do them, but he hasn't got the abilities. It is rare that he played as a support striker, for instance, when Club Brugge won 4-0 at Porto, but that is if you want to use the space behind the defenders and you are sitting deep as a team.” The player Tamsyn compares Nusa with is Jérémy Doku from Manchester City. “Doku’s top speed is just a bit higher, but in terms of potential, I think Nusa will be a bit better with the ball at his feet.”