- Date of Birth: 25/05/2007
- Age: 18
- Nationality: 🏴 Wales
- Preferred Position: RB
- Alternative Positions: –
- Club: Cardiff City
- Height: 178 cm
- Contract Until: 30/06/2029
HERE WE GOOO AGAIN🤪
For the past 22 days we have been reviewing players, and yesterday we noticed something interesting, we covered all positions except a RB… So you know what to expect today!
Since there are no great RB in the main leagues we covered, we had to move to a not so covered league, EFL League One, to discover today’s rising star: Ronan Kpakio.
Ronan Kpakio is a RB from Cardiff City who has had a breakout season so far, starting to get consistent minutes and even getting called to the Welsh national team.
With his name on the radar for some Premier League teams, is he ready for that move? Will he perform at the highest level?
Let’s find out!
The modern RB: An offensive threat…
A few days ago we covered Jorge Salinas and mentioned how his profile differs from the modern full-backs. Well, this is not the case here. Ronan Kpakio IS the modern full-back — dynamic, brave, technically secure and a constant attacking threat.
First, some context.
Not long ago, Cardiff City were a Premier League side (2018/19). After relegation, they spent six consecutive seasons in the Championship — sometimes mid-table, sometimes flirting with the play-offs, sometimes looking over their shoulder. But last season everything collapsed. Cardiff finished rock bottom and were relegated to EFL League One.
This year, however, the response has been strong. Cardiff sit top of the table. They are the highest-scoring side in the league and tied as the best defensive unit. That balance between attacking firepower and defensive solidity reflects dominance — not luck.
And that is the perfect environment to introduce and test young talent.
Ronan Kpakio, developed within Cardiff’s academy system, has finally earned his first-team opportunity. Competing with an experienced and established right-back like Perry Ng (200+ appearances for the club) is no small task. Yet Ronan Kpakio has managed to combine starts with impactful substitute appearances, carving out real influence in a promotion-chasing side.
Now, why has Ronan Kpakio been so good?
Because he embodies everything a modern right-back should be.
Ronan Kpakio is fast, agile and intelligent with his movement. He times his forward runs perfectly, constantly creating 2v1 situations with his winger. His involvement is not passive — he actively demands the ball, accumulating touches and passes because he is trusted in build-up phases.
His passing stands out. Despite not always opting for the safe option, he maintains outstanding accuracy. That combination of bravery and precision is rare. And the end product is tangible: 6 assists in 26 matches (around 1,600 minutes) — roughly one assist every three games. For a young full-back in his first real senior season, those are elite contribution numbers.
He is not shy in front of goal either. Ronan Kpakio shows confidence when stepping into shooting positions and, more importantly, tends to hit the target when he does. That willingness to take responsibility at his age speaks volumes about his mentality.
Defensively, he matches his attacking output with intensity. His agility and quick feet allow him to anticipate wingers and recover possession in difficult situations. He is proactive in transitions and comfortable defending space — crucial traits for a team that often dominates territory.
And a flaw on defense?
Ronan Kpakio’s profile is not new to anyone. And when reading the first part of this report, you may have already thought the same thing: the offensive output is impressive… but he is a right-back. How reliable is he defensively?
That is the real question.
And the honest answer is that Ronan Kpakio still has a long way to go to be considered a complete defender.
As mentioned earlier, he excels at ball recoveries thanks to his timing and anticipation. He reads loose balls well and reacts quickly in transitional moments. But beyond that, his defensive package is still under construction.
He is not particularly strong in pure tackling situations, nor does he consistently clear danger with authority. Even when his positioning is correct, he sometimes allows second actions — failing to fully eliminate the threat. At times, he appears too soft in direct confrontations. Despite not being undersized or physically limited, he does not always impose himself on attackers the way a dominant full-back should.
There is a noticeable lack of aggression in duels. More contact, more assertiveness and a stronger physical presence would immediately elevate his defensive level. Modern full-backs must be brave going forward — but also ruthless when defending their flank.
The duel metrics reflect this. Ronan Kpakio is far from being a duel specialist, both in terms of volume and success rate. He does not dominate aerially, nor does he consistently win ground battles. Against stronger or more experienced wingers, this can become a vulnerability.
However, these shortcomings are not structural flaws — they are development points. Defensive aggression, timing in tackles and physical assertiveness often improve with experience, confidence and tactical maturity.
If Ronan Kpakio manages to add that defensive edge to his already high-level attacking skillset, his profile changes dramatically. Because the offensive tools are already there.
Summary
Strengths:
- Sharp, agile and fast
- Great crossing and facilitator for team mates
- Vision and passing
- Shooting
- Nice ball recovery
Weaknesses:
- Needs improvement in his overall defense. For now, he is a flaw on defense.
- Should be more aggressive
- Not a duel winner
Player Comparison
In these images, the player is ranked against others in the same position and league. For each metric, you’ll see the statistic name, the player’s average per 90 minutes, and their percentile rank—which shows how they compare to their peers (e.g., an 80th percentile means they performed better than 80% of players in that group).
Future Moves and Player Expectations
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