Yankuba Minteh is a Gambian footballer nicknamed The Gambian Messi. After joining Newcastle United and spending a loan spell at Feyenoord, he is now the starting right-wing forward for Brighton.
Today, we will analyze him.
Yankuba Minteh’s market value is estimated at €28 million according to Transfermarkt(as of March 2025)
Yankuba Minteh Scouting Report | The Gambian MESSI
♦ Player Profile
Nationality : The Gambia
Date of Birth : 22 July 2004
Height : 180cm
Weight : 65kg
Possible Positions : Right Winger
Preferred Foot : Left
Youth Clubs :
Steve Biko FC(~2022)
Odense BK(2022)
Senior Career :
Odense BK(2022~2023)
Newcastle United(2023~2024)
Feyenoord(2023~2024) -Loan-
Brighton & Hove Albion FC (2024~Present)
Yankuba Minteh – 2024/25 Premier League Stats (As of March 2025)
| Season(League) | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
| 2024-25(As of March 2025) | 23 | 5 | 3 | 1,183 |
Yankuba Minteh : Strengths, Weaknesses & Playing Style Analysis
♦ Key Strengths :
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Outstanding speed and agility
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High work rate and defensive contribution
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Dribbling and penetration
♣ Weakness :
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Heavy reliance on his left foot
♠ Unique Traits & Playstyle :
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Inverted Winger
90-Minute stats comparison of seven players in the same position from the same league in the 24/25 season
According to statistical comparisons, Yankuba Minteh has an excellent dribble success rate and an outstanding finishing ability relative to his xG.
♦ Conclusion
Yankuba Minteh, born in 2004, is a Gambian footballer nicknamed The Gambian Messi and currently plays as the starting right-winger for Brighton.
After a successful loan spell at Feyenoord following his transfer to Newcastle, he moved to Brighton for a club-record fee of €33 million.
At that time, Newcastle did not want to sell Minteh, but due to PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) constraints, they had to let him go without ever playing him.
Although he struggled at the beginning of the season, he has gradually adapted and is now shining at Brighton, making this signing a stroke of luck for the club.
Minteh possesses multiple strengths:
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Excellent dribbling and penetration skills
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Lightning-fast speed and agility, making him a significant threat to defenders
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Strong balance, ensuring he doesn’t get pushed off easily by fullbacks
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The ability to escape pressure and break defensive lines quickly
For instance, one of manager Fabian Hürzeler‘s key attacking strategies this season involves long direct passes from defenders like Van Hecke and Webster to the forwards (João Pedro, Mitoma, and Minteh). When Van Hecke delivers a quality long ball, Mitoma and Minteh make penetrating runs to create scoring opportunities.
Minteh also has a decent left-footed strike, allowing him to contribute in set-piece situations. He is capable of making quick and intelligent one-touch passes to link up with teammates. While he prefers cutting inside to operate centrally, he also drags defenders wide to create space for his teammates, demonstrating his tactical intelligence.
Furthermore, his incredible work rate allows him to contribute defensively by pressing from the front and tracking back. In the Round 25 match against Chelsea, he played almost 88 minutes, helping Brighton shift into a five-man backline when defending. He effectively contained Chelsea’s left-wingers (Neto and Sancho) while attacking against Cucurella, scoring a brace and displaying excellent finishing ability. His performance in that match earned him the MOTM (Man of the Match) award.
One notable weakness is his heavy preference for his left foot. Out of his five goals this season, four have been scored with his left foot. There have been instances where he missed big chances because he tried to shift onto his left foot instead of taking a straightforward shot with his right.
Players of Minteh’s style, who rely on sprinting, intense pressing, and defensive tracking, often struggle with frequent injuries. However, Minteh has only had two injuries lasting about a month in his entire career, which is a significant advantage.
♦ Summary
Yankuba Minteh is currently Brighton’s starting right-winger, forming a crucial attacking trio with João Pedro and Mitoma. Not only does he possess key winger attributes like dribbling, penetration, and speed, but he also offers incredible work rate, tactical flexibility (even playing as a wing-back when needed), and impressive durability, making him an ideal player for any manager.
It will be exciting to see how he continues to develop and what level he can reach in the future.
Another Chelsea Winger, Noni Madueke