Everton have been looking for a right-back for over a year, and Ridle Baku has pushed himself into that conversation because the profile is so attack-minded. The Comparisonator Similarity search puts him alongside Bukayo Saka at 97%, which is a striking fit for a player Everton are considering in a defensive role. Baku was born in Mainz on April 8, 1998, and joined RB Leipzig in January 2025 after a four-and-a-half year spell with Wolfsburg.
Baku's attacking numbers
The useful part for Everton is not just the comparison model. Baku averages 0.69 key passes per 90 minutes, ahead of Pedro Porro's 0.58, and that gives a clearer sense of why he stands out. He also posts 1.91 progressive runs per 90 and a top speed of 35.1 km/h, both signs of a player who wants to get up the pitch rather than sit and hold his lane.
His 69% successful offensive actions percentage points in the same direction. This is not the profile of a cautious stay-at-home full-back, and that is probably why he has emerged as a serious name for Everton's shortlist.
Everton's search and the wider picture
David Moyes told liverpoolecho.co.uk, "We've been actively looking for a right-back for over a year". That lines up with the report's broader point that Everton's search has been ongoing rather than rushed.
There is still some debate over how fixed Baku's status is in the conversation. The Liverpool Echo view is that he is very much in the frame, while a The Athletic report cited in the article says other targets have also been explored. On balance, though, Baku looks like more than a random link. Everton want a more forward-thinking option on the right, and his numbers are built for that sort of brief.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
