PROFILE | Exuberant, eccentric Wilfried Singo should be the defender on every club’s wishlist | OneFootball

There are plenty of eye-catching players in Monaco’s squad. There are the mavericks: Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche; then there is Aleksandr Golovin and Takumi Minamino, technically gifted and brilliant distributors, especially the former; then there is Denis Zakaria, the languid line-breaker.

Defender’s aren’t often associated with the word “eye-catching”, nor are they prone to moments of exuberance and flair – Wilfried Singo is the exception to the rule. The best defender in Ligue 1 over the calendar year, he is re-defining the role, subverting expectations.

His athleticism immediately catches the eye. His incredible recovery speed, ability to jump higher, run faster, and outmuscle his opponent have allowed him to dominate encounters and frequently win his individual duels – in a league as physically as Ligue 1 that is no mean feat.

He won 63 aerial duels in the Ligue 1 last season, the ninth-highest figure in the league. That figure is even more impressive when considering that Singo spent parts of the season at right-back, rather than centrally.

With Singo in the side, ASM have become one of the most renowned teams in the air, dominating in both boxes. Adi Hütter acknowledges the importance of the Ivorian in that success.

“He can bring a lot in terms of set-pieces. He is a top header of the ball, with his technique and determination with the head. He’s a warrior and a fighter. He can help us a lot in the backline, especially with set-pieces,” said the Monaco manager.

Singo mixes high footballing IQ with elite physical attributes

But whilst he is renowned for his physicality in duels, both aerial and on the ground, it is in his reading of the game and ability to intercept that he shines most out of possession. He made 51 appearances in Ligue 1 last season, the seventh most in the league, whilst he has made 26 already this season; only Saint-Étienne’s Dylan Batubinsika (29) has made more.

It is a testament, naturally, to his anticipation, his reading of the game and his confidence in his own ability to be aggressive in his defending and push forward. As defenders go, Singo is perhaps as unconservative as they come.

It is his immense pace that also allows him to be so aggressive. Failing to win the ball back, he knows that he has the speed to make up for it and recover. Asked to introduce himself as a player during his unveiling as a Monaco player back in the summer of 2023, Singo described himself as “an athletic player.”

It is a mixture of those athletic attributes and understanding of the game that allows him to have a certain positional versatility, crucial to this Monaco side, who have flitted between a back three and a back four.

“He’s a really good defender. He can play in lots of defensive positions,” said Hütter, who has played him as a centre-back both in a back three and a back four, as well as at right-back.

Regardless of where he plays and regardless of the system, Singo is uncompromising in his ambition to be a threat going forward. His successful take-on percentage of 70.7 was the fifth best in Ligue 1 last season and he is often seen bursting through the lines from deep, looking to be as direct as possible, mirroring Monaco’s expansive, forward-thinking style for which they have become renowned.

Second in that aforementioned list of successful dribblers is another Monégasque, Denis Zakaria. He arrived at the same time as the Swiss international and from the same city, Turin. Presented alongside Zakaria, Singo said that the midfielder was “like a brother” to him. He quickly struck up a strong relationship with his other teammates, which is reflected in his understanding with the numerous defensive partners that he has featured alongside.

AFCON triumph caps golden year

“I think that there is a good understanding naturally because he is also an intelligent player, who reads the game well […] we understand each other’s qualities, where are the strengths and also the weaknesses,” said Thilo Kehrer. The Singo-Kehrer partnership has been the go-to for Monaco in big games this season.

His seamless adaptation led to a rather positive appraisal of his debut campaign at the Stade Louis II. “I think that I have taken on a new dimension. “My season has been perfect. I am happy with what I have done, what I have brought,” said the Ivorian towards the end of the season.

That not only applied to what he achieved at club level but also at international level. He was part of the Ivory Coast side that won the AFCON, starting three of their seven games.

“I think that I have made a big step with the club and with my country with the AFCON,” said Singo. It was more of a great leaping stride than a step that the defender made and it is in fitting with his time in Europe, since making the move to Torino where he also arrived as something of an unknown quantity.

Singo to depart in 2026?

At international level, he has nailed down a starting spot since that triumphant AFCON campaign; at club level, Singo is uncontested, a guaranteed starter and one of the best defenders in Ligue 1.

There is not yet any talk of a departure but that is always on the cards when you are young and thriving at a club like Monaco. Performances, like the ones he has displayed domestically and across Europe, always capture the attention, even more so when you’re a player as eccentric, athletic and generally eye-catching as Singo.

For players signed at a young age, Monaco work on the basis of a three-year cycle. A departure in 2026 may therefore be on the cards for Singo, although it would be a surprise if some top clubs didn’t show concrete interest at the end of the season, should he maintain his level. Regardless, he looks certain to go for a much larger fee than the €9m he was signed for from Torino.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle