Twenty3’s Under 23s to watch: Roony Bardghji

FC København starlet Roony Bardghji is attracting plenty of admirers. 

The 17-year-old winger has put in a series of sensational displays this season, with his electric dribbling and venomous finishing reportedly catching the eye of Spanish giants Real Madrid.

A big future surely lies ahead for the Lions’ No.40, so we have used Twenty3’s Toolbox to take a deep dive into the prodigious youngster’s metrics — analysing his performances and peeking into his promising potential.

Tricky winger

Bardghji has racked up 626 minutes in the Danish Superliga, where he has predominantly played on the right flank.

The left-footed forward enjoys cutting inside, as demonstrated by the heat map below, where he can attempt an effort at goal or play passes into his team-mates.

Despite being just 17, he has already made a significant impact — scoring three league goals and assisting one, while posting some impressive numbers on a per 90 basis.

For comparison, Bardghji’s output has not been too dissimilar to FC Midtjylland forward Gustav Isaksen, who is enjoying a standout season with the Wolves.

Ball-striking ability

When striking the ball, Bardghji typically aims for power, which can sometimes lead to less accuracy. From his 25 non-penalty shots, 10 have found the target.

The Swede has scored at a rate of 0.43 times per 90 in the Danish top-flight, which is roughly in line with his expected goals record of 0.49 (a total of 3.38 xG).

København’s hottest prospect likes to cut onto his stronger left foot, where he can shoot from the edge of the box. He also looks to arrive late into the area, to connect with crosses.

Bardghji is a particularly high-volume shooter, recording 3.59 attempts per 90. He ranks second in the Danish Superliga for that metric, reflecting his desire to constantly test the goalkeeper.

Connecting the dots

Bardghji is frequently involved on the right flank when København are in possession.

This season, 22 of his 29 link-up play attempts have succeeded — illustrating his vision and intelligence, as the Sweden Under-21 international consistently looks to connect with his team-mates.

He has featured in 7.19 sequences that end in a shot per 90, with no other player in the division registering a better record.

There are promising signs when it comes to set-plays, too. Despite only taking eight corners, his one assist came from this scenario, when he whipped an in-swinging cross for Lukas Lerager’s goal against AGF in November.

However, his open play direct shot assists total is low, having recorded just 11, with only one of those finding the target.

Bardghji primarily uses his left foot, meaning he attempts fewer crosses from near the byline. As illustrated by his shot assist map and passing flow below, most of the Kuwait City native’s passes come centrally.

In total, he has only attempted three deliveries from open play, completing none — an area of his game that could potentially develop in the years ahead.

Dynamic dribbler

On the ball, Bardghji is emerging as one of the best dribblers in the Danish Superliga. 

His direct close-touch control, tricky body feints and quick acceleration allow him to burst past markers and jink through defences.

This term, he has averaged 3.16 completed dribbles from 6.76 attempts per 90 — a completion rate which sees him rank 11th in the league.

Bardghji’s short, strong build and excellent balance helps him shield the ball in order to retain possession, losing it to an opponent just eight times in his own half.

However, he can sometimes get caught in traffic and overplay, which has seen him dispossessed 55 times in 2022/23.

A promising future

Despite his young age, Bardghji has already shown immense potential.

He signed a contract with FC København until the end of 2025 back in January, meaning he should be able to hone his skills with the Danish outfit for the foreseeable future.

As a result, Europe’s biggest sides may have to wait before making their move for the Swedish sensation — but it will not be long before they are circling to sign this outrageously talented teenager.

All the Smart Reports and visualisations in this article were produced using the Twenty3 Toolbox. For more information, please get in touch below.