Manchester United have signed Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich on a four-year deal for a fee of €15million with a possible €5m in add-ons.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League transfers in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100, to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all transfers will be rated as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for this move.
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Tactical fit — 80/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Mazraoui is a right-back but has also played at left-back and at Manchester United, this versatility is needed under Erik ten Hag. He often requires his full-backs to perform different responsibilities, from overlapping runs to inverting into midfield.
Mazraoui excels at advancing the ball up the pitch, with 6.9 progressive passes per 90 minutes, placing him in the 96th percentile (the top four per cent) among positional peers. His defensive contributions are also good, with 2.4 tackles per 90 (75th percentile) and 1.3 interceptions per 90 (87th percentile), showing his proactivity in breaking up play and regaining possession.
Here, in April, during a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham receives a pass from Toni Kroos while facing away from the goal. Mazraoui reads this as an opportunity to apply pressure. He dispossesses Bellingham and Harry Kane is able to capitalise by having a shot on goal.
Mazraoui can deliver accurate passes over various distances making him a reliable outlet in both build-up play and attacking phases. Rather than relying on his athleticism, Mazraoui uses his understanding of space and positioning to defend against off-ball runs.
As shown in this game versus Bayer Leverkusen in February, Mazraoui notices the run Leroy Sane wants to make on the blindside of Piero Hincapie. Mazraoui plays a great long ball for Sane to run onto, allowing him to have a shot on goal.
From the bar chart below, Mazraoui is shown to be a very creative player who helps set up shots for his team.
He is excellent at passing the ball accurately and gets involved in the attacking area. He is also defensively solid.
Mazraoui can build up as part of a back three, providing additional support in possession phases, inverting into midfield to help overload central areas and ball progression. He can play in the half-space to create dangerous attacking combinations with wide players, and making overlapping runs to offer width and crossing opportunities in the final third. His connection with players such as Kingsley Coman at Bayern shows he can form good partnerships, a trait which could be mirrored with Alejandro Garnacho or Amad.
Mazraoui suits Ten Hag’s setup. During the build-up phase, his flexibility and progressive passing makes him ideal. In the low build-up, Mazraoui can push up to create width. In possession further up the pitch, he can either move into the midfield to create numerical superiority or drop back to form a back three. This fits Ten Hag’s idea of playing through the middle and maintaining a high line. Additionally, Mazraoui’s ability to overload central areas and support possession phases helps with shortening the distance and time between passes, giving United players more control. In attacking phases, Mazraoui can provide overlapping, underlapping runs and the ability to play in the half-spaces to create chances.
His ability to press aggressively and regain possession is a large part of Ten Hag’s game model. Mazraoui can push high and close down oppositions while maintaining a compact shape and squeezing the pitch.
Gillian Kasirye
Season rating: 73/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
Mazraoui had a good season for Bayern, playing 19 games and registering three assists.
His standout performance came in the Champions League quarter-final home tie against Arsenal in April. His complete full-back play and smart defending were on full display and helped lead Bayern into the semi-finals.
However, last season he missed a total of 19 games. The absences were due to different injuries, mostly muscle-related. This has been quite an issue for him, as he has not played more than 25 league games in a season since 2018-19 at Ajax. These injury concerns led Bayern to sign Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in January.
Despite these setbacks, Mazraoui’s contributions on the field have been noticeable when available.
Gillian Kasirye
Gaming rating: 76/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
Mazraoui is nearing his prime, according to Football Manager. Their data is powered by an extensive scouting network, one that is used within the sport, and they suggest a current ability rating of 149 out of 200. For context, Kaoru Mitoma, of Brighton, is also rated at 149, while of right-backs in the Premier League, his nearest comparisons are Takehiro Tomiyasu (150) and Ben White (155) at Arsenal, who are also a similar age.
His potential ability rating of 155 nudges him up to White’s current ability level. Joao Cancelo’s current ability, for context, is 159 (age 29), while the highest current ability of any right back within the data set is Kyle Walker, on 164. Pervis Estupinan of Brighton and Ben Chilwell of Chelsea also have current ability ratings of 155.
Compared with his United team-mates, he ranks above 24-year-old Diogo Dalot (144 current ability, 154 potential) and the outward-bound 25-year-old Aaron Wan-Bissaka (143 current ability, 150 potential). His data suggests he is a ready-made player for the highest level and would improve the squad, even if he is close to his peak.
Peter Rutzler
Financial value rating: 65/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value — 16/25
The £13million fee spent on Mazraoui is effectively cancelled out by the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham United. A small outlay in the context of United’s spending but reflective of a player deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern Munich. Sensible if unspectacular.
Squad cost — 21/25
United have committed big sums in transforming their defence this summer and could not stretch to the same amounts as they have for Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt. Mazraoui addresses a problem on a budget, as a like-for-like swap with Wan-Bissaka.
Contract sensibility — 14/25
The xx-year contract will keep Mazraoui at Old Trafford until xxxx but will not be moving for wages that see him joining United’s highest earners. it is long enough to give all parties security without threatening to become a burden.
Resale value — 14/25
Mazraoui joined Bayern on a free from Ajax and is moving on for a modest sum, so little to suggest this will be a player that turns United a big profit. As an international with plenty of Champions League experience, though, every chance his current value holds well enough.
Philip Buckingham
Risk or reward? 57/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
Despite his strengths, Mazraoui has struggled with muscle-related injuries. In the 2023-24 season alone, he faced multiple fitness issues, including torn muscle fibres and bundles. In addition, Mazraoui developed a heart condition after contracting Covid, which also resulted in time lost.
Mazraoui’s injury history shows an increasing trend in the early stages of his career, peaking in the 2019-20 season. Following this peak, there was a decrease in injury days in the 2020-21 season, but another rise in days lost to injury in the 2023-24 season.
These are a major cause for concern despite the obvious quality the Moroccan possesses. He has also started only 40 of 70 matches in the past two seasons across competitions even when fit.
Mazraoui’s ability to play on either flank in defence will be useful for United, while his signing should allow Ten Hag to use a more controlled approach from back to front unlike last season. United also have the durable Dalot as a designated starter at right-back. However, given Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s injury troubles, Mazraoui may need to play regularly and the last thing United need is for another defender to spend extended periods on the sidelines.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Overall rating: 351/500
(Photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
