Nigeria’s Ola Aina has won possession 64 times in his first 11 English Premier League (EPL) games of the 2024/25 season. However, there is one player that has a higher tally than the Super Eagles star within the period as per Stathead. Who is this ball winner?
• Ndiaye
• This iconic footballer is Iliman Ndiaye. The Everton forward has made 69 recoveries in the English top flight so far this term. Interestingly, he only won possession once in 28 minutes of action on match day 1 of the season. The Senegalese winger showed his true ball-winning colours when he made his first EPL start in game week 3. Ndiaye recovered 12 loose balls in the course of the encounter with Bournemouth, enabling him to make a couple of goal attempts.
• His best day of winning possessions came on match day 6 when the Toffees hosted Crystal Palace. He was able to win 13 loose balls in the encounter. Having won possession, he also used his dribbling skills to beat defenders, allowing him to get into the visitors’ penalty area and create a chance in the match. It should be noted that the Senegal international also had a double-digit tally during the match 11 visit to West Ham.Aina in action
• In the case of Ola Aina, 2 recoveries were made on match day 1. However, the Nottingham Forest defender registered his best ball-winning output so far this season when the Tricky Trees visited Southampton in game week 2, winning possession 11 times in that encounter.
