Ederson. Scout report.

You simply cannot escape this man. A name strongly linked to Tottenham for this upcoming summer window is Atalanta midfielder Ederson. So here’s a scout report breaking down what he does well, what he doesn’t do so well and if he’s actually a good fit for this current Spurs side.

Player profile.

Name: Ederson

Age: 25 years old.

Nationality: Brazilian

Height: 6ft/183cm

Pref foot: Right

Position: #8

Contract expires: 3oth June 2026

Estimated transfer value: £25m

Ederson’s tactical role/responsibilities.

Atalanta always set up with a 3–4 with the remaining 3 attackers coming in combination with two 10s and a 9 or two 9s and a 10 to make either a 3–4–2–1 or a 3–4–1–2. But that’s ahead of Ederson, who is always in the middle two usually – on the left – partnering De Roon. Responsibilities are shared Ederson is the 8 but that doesn’t stop De Roon from advancing forward to support attacks and Ederson to drop in between the CBs to support build up. They’re both all action. They break up play, build up play, support play, shoot, pass, carry, cover, run. They both do it all and cover land and sea whilst doing so.

Ederson’s physical & mental profile.

Ederson has a compact bulldog like frame, one that can knock players off balance defensively whilst being a solid object to get through when receiving on the half turn or back to play.

He has okay speed over distances he’s not explosive so it takes him a few strides to pick up his speed but it’s to an effective level comparing it to Spurs midfielders I’d say he has the speed that’s fairly even to Yves Bissouma.

The lack of explosiveness and agility is most vulnerable when he’s pressing, he closes down effectively pressing at the correct angles but when it’s time to move his feet to run back in the direction he came from he appears heavy footed which on multiple occasions gave opposition players a two yard head start on him. This can definitely also go down as poor reaction timing as well. A combination of all three to be fair. Slow to react, slow to adjust, slow to explode. A big negative in such an aggressive man to man pressing set up.

Physically you have a footballer that isn’t perfect but has the attributes to make him an absolute work horse in midfield.

You also see that in his mental attributes someone that takes on the responsibility of very important roles in the middle of the pitch. One that is fit enough and is happy to fill in for CBs when they step out to close down in midfield areas and stretch the defensive line running beyond the forwards making runs into half spaces on occasion. Ederson as mentioned early covers ground. His engine is phenomenal, one that never stops or effects his qualities on and off the ball. He’s an absolute DOG in that midfield. Here’s his heat map for the current 23/24 Serie A season.

Technical and tactical profile.

Ederson’s role tactically allows us to get a good insight into his on ball qualities, at times he will be the deepest of the midfield two dropping in to widen the CBs and creating maximum width. He’s composed and steady in build up opting for simple short – medium range passes into wide players keeping things 2–3 touch. He doesn’t dawdle on the ball. He definitely has a slight bias in his passing playing across body to the left rather than the right. That’s reflected in his passing where his passing across his body is a lot more accurate compared to when he has an open body shape playing to the right.

When being the ‘conductor’ in build up, I personally believe he lacks the problem solving to unlock and maximise the potential going forward. The safe passing I mentioned previously can become a bit frustrating, especially when Atalanta players do have a lot of players in higher areas between lines that can easily take it from 0–100. This may be a confidence issue however I don’t believe he’s that guy if you’re looking for a 6 – as he’s not a 6 – to dictate play. Despite his impressive passing skills.

The quality of these passes though are consistent and give a secure platform to build on for La Dea. With his side foot passes along the deck are powerful yet controlled with good quality. No bobbles, to the correct receiving foot, and not into players under pressure.

Quality definitely drops when looking to play longer clipped passes where he often over hits them, they have good power yet the hang on these passes – particularly playing from left to right – lead to opposition players getting out to close down quickly or goes out of play entirely.

His passing in tight areas is good they’re – a lot of time out wide – soft and dainty passes that retain possession. Whether that’s in a 3v3 or from a throw in. His problem solving in tight areas is actually good so in these areas he can manipulate and maximise the use of angles to find the out pass to escape the area.

When forced to play on his left his passing is actually very good for his ‘weaker’ foot. He doesn’t go out his way to use it, but when he is forced he’s still able to keep possession and play ticking for the boys from Bergamo.

Passing is fine under pressure as well. Needed to add that. Just remembered it. Quite important.

On a few occasions he flexed a lovely instep floated cross into the box that was excellent from both sides of the pitch. Vs Sporting (a) he hung two lovely versions of these passes to the backpost from the right showing he can do it deep as well as short off of the left where he picked out Scamacca for a header vs Monza.

To pass a ball at one point you have to receive it which the 25 year old does well. Superb at receiving on the outside of his foot to play on the half turn and to evade pressure. That compact sturdy frame does support him under pressure when receiving, he’s able to throw his body between man and ball or step across the defenders line leaving him in his shadows. Was a few times where he used deception well when receiving to by himself more time on the ball.

Ederson defensively is solid. He’s aggressive yet measured in his approach when going into duels. He stays on his feet and rarely gives away fouls however he does look fairly unbalanced when tackling, a strong first contact from the player in possession can easily fend the Brazilian off. When he gets it right though it’s a very good sight, he times his entrance well whilst being firm but fair. He’s excellent when closing players down with their back to goal receiving in their 1st third. Something which ticks the box when watching midfielders in relation to Spurs. Defending transitions is also another strong point two his game, he reads the play well when overloaded standing his ground until enough Atalanta players recover before switching or putting a foot into win the ball back.

He makes a tone of interceptions which should come as no surprise due to his busy role in midfield. He seems two steps ahead at times positioning himself excellently in all thirds, whether that’s plugging a gap at LCB to stop a cut back or cross or jumping on loose balls higher up the pitch where he has the beautiful trait of turning interceptions into passes when he has bodies around or ahead of him. In a high pressing side this is priceless.

I do have a bit of an annoyance when watching him play, at times when following players deep into their half he doesn’t do much to cut off passing lanes going forward almost posing like a cowboy in a face off in the movies. It’s minor but it’s noticeable.

Another nice aspect of Ederson’s defensive game is when defending wide areas, he constantly looks to use the byline as another defender often leading to players being boxed in forcing a low quality pass or simply being forced into a corner turning over the ball.

When given space or licence to break lines with his running, he has an excellent eye for space even when starting deeper often targeting pockets in the half space between defensive and midfield line or gaping holes in defences. When able to he made sure to keep runs on the blindside of his opposite number.

With Atalanta being one of Europe’s most intense man to man pressing football teams, switched on players are a must to make this system tick. Ederson is that. A pure marathon runner that tracks runs high, low and from side to side but when it’s time to switch man Ederson does it smoothly with no hiccups. Passing players on and picking another one up is hands down one of Emerson’s strongest traits, making him a reliable player to start and trust out of possession.

Mentally Ederson is a super composed, hard working and selfless player. He rarely complains nor does he stop running, at such a high intensity. Late on you’ll see Ederson as deep as the 18 yard box then 30 seconds later on the edge of the opposition 18.

I didn’t get to see much of his shooting or aerial ability in the six games I watched so I won’t comment on those as quite simply not well informed on that aspect of his game.

Take him at Spurs?

Errrrrhhhhhhhhh. For me, it’s a no. Ederson for me is a good 8 and is definitely a player of value for many clubs in Europe. He fits that Pape Sarr role well, however with the incoming of Bergvall and Spurs actually being stacked in that role/position it’s not worth the fee Atalanta would probably charge, especially if they were also to lose Teun Koopmeiners this summer. As a lone 6 for Spurs I don’t believe he’s the correct profile, for me I’d want a physical monster in the 6 that’s dominating defensively with high passing volume. Now everyone wants that, but I’m just describing Amadou Onana. I want him, or as similar of a player you can get to him.