Why Kevin Danois will be a great asset to Crystal Palace
News has broken today that Crystal Palace are attempting to sign Auxerre’s academy graduate Kevin Danois, for a fee reportedly around £25m including add-ons. The young French midfielder is a bright prospect who may prove to be exactly what The Eagles need on a longer-term basis.
Who is Kevin Danois?
Danois is a midfield operative comfortable playing in Pierre Sage’s system. He has grown up through the Auxerre system, in a team that fought relegation in the 25/26 campaign. Danois’ consistency and contributions both offensively and defensively were a strong factor in the club’s survival. Key attributes include his ability on the ball, chance creation and dueling. Danois offers plenty going forward whilst also having the stature and determination to win the ball back when play is turned over.
Kevin Danois, On-Ball Attacking Statistics: Ligue 1, 25/26
via Gradient FC
Kevin Danois offers a unique profile in midfield, with a similar attribute to the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Declan Rice, where driving through the heart of midfield or peeling out wide with the ball is not an issue.
Transitioning midfield possession to a dangerous attack
With this trait, Danois is capable of beating several pressing players, advancing the ball to the final third and delivering past the defensive line.
This profile could suit Crystal Palace perfectly. A team who have lost their intricate playmakers such as Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, now relying on fast, direct wide players to receive balls in behind, such as Sarr, Munoz and others. Danois can advance the play without the need for one of these runners to drop deep and pick up the ball, playing to the strengths of those around him.
The Slight Concerns
It’s important to remember the modern-day transfer strategy of so many English clubs: acquiring talent between the ages of 19-24, expecting them to gel with the squad quickly and settle into Premier League football within the space of 12-18 months. Kevin Danois is just 22 years old, has played in barely 2 full seasons of French football and requires plenty of development…
Kevin Danois, Dueling and Defending Statistics: Ligue 1, 25/26
via Gradient FC
Danois’ desire to win the ball back is undeniable, however his positional discipline can leave opposition players open.
At times, he can be caught out ball-watching or guarding the wrong position of the pitch.
Additionally, in a two-man midfield at Premier League level, he will have to ensure he remains smart with his progressional choices and sometimes opt for a more conservative approach. Teams will be all over him in the middle of the park, and one wrong decision can easily give a goalscoring chance to the opponent.
The Verdict
The signing of Kevin Danois would only be a positive one. One of the most exciting young players in Ligue 1, who would certainly become a fan-favourite at Selhurst Park. It would be interesting to see if Danois come to replace the ever-popular Adam Wharton, who Palace are determined to keep for another season amid interest from the likes of Manchester City. Wharton’s progressive passing profile is near impossible to replace, so could we see Danois come to fill this void with a more dribble-first approach? As for now, if the deal is made, Danois will likely become an option alongside Daichi Kamada, to play next to the Adam Wharton. This brings a similar intensity with a younger profile. As shown below, Gradient FC ranks Danois ahead of Kamada in all but 2 overall metrics.
