Youssouf Ndayishimiye

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

In the sun-drenched hills of the French Riviera, crisis is mounting at OGC Nice. Languishing 15th in Ligue 1 with a troubling five-match winless run, Les Aiglons find themselves closer to the relegation zone than European contention. Yet amid this turbulence, a beacon of defensive resolve has emerged. Youssouf Ndayishimiye, the 27-year-old Burundian centre-back, has delivered a dream debut for Nice. In his solitary 90-minute appearance, the €7 million-rated colossus wearing number 55 has already found the back of the net—a rarity for any defender that speaks to his aerial prowess and latent attacking threat. With 60-rated defensive acumen and imposing physicality, Ndayishimiye provides the organizational backbone that Nice so desperately craves. Alongside teammates like Morgan Sanson in midfield and Mohamed-Ali Cho in attack, Ndayishimiye represents exactly the defensive anchor needed to stem the bleeding. In a team hemorrhaging points, his ability to dominate aerial duels and marshal the backline offers a pathway back to stability—and perhaps, a quiet redemption story on the Mediterranean coast.