The Jesurun Rak-Sakyi Deep Dive | OneFootball

January loan signings Ben Brereton-Diaz and Harry Clarke may have stolen recent headlines. Still, since the beginning of February, it has been a summer loanee, who has impressively gone about his business.

In the last two games against Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi scored in both games. Two goals in four days leaves Rak-Sakyi worthy of some love from the Blades faithful this Valentine’s Day.

Rak-Sakyi has contributed more than goals to the Blades this season with his overall stats looking very promising. As the Championship season begins to head down the home straight.

Rak-Sakyi’s general stats

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, 22, born in Southwark, began his youth career with Chelsea, the current club of his younger brother, Samuel Rak-Sakyi. After a strong loan with Charlton in 2022-2023 where he scored 15 goals in 43 League One games. This season Crystal Palace decided he was ready to take on the Championship.

After a reported battle with many Championship clubs the Blades secured Rak-Sakyi’s temporary signature. The young wide-forward has repaid the Blades’ persistence with six goals and two assists in 25 Championship matches. He has started 17 Championship games for the Blades playing 1295 minutes.

Attacking stats

This season, Rak-Sakyi has taken 33 shots for the Blades with only three coming from outside of the box. Unsurprisingly, all six of his league goals have come from inside the box. His goal tally means he is currently outperforming his xG of 5.1 showing his clinical nature.

He currently has a shot accuracy of 70%. His six goals place him in the 90th percentile of Championship wingers. He is currently joint 30th in the Championships top scorers and is United’s second top scorer tied with Tyrese Campbell. The only player in front of him is Gustavo Hamer with seven goals.

Passing stats

Rak-Sakyi’s two Championship assists so far have seen him under-perform his current expected assists of 3.17. This suggests he is creating chances only for his teammates to fail to uphold the goalscoring end of the bargain. This season, he has created 23 chances placing him in the 69th percentile of Championship wingers. Whilst fairly high amongst his peers in the league, his chances created per 90 (1.60) is important to note as he has played less than the games available to him. His per 90 stat places him slightly better in the 74th percentile.

His current pass accuracy for this season in 80.3% with him completing a total of 261. Where his passing could improve is his long ball accuracy, currently 35.3%, especially given the arrival of more mobile forward Ben Brereton-Diaz.

On the ball stats

Rak-Sakyi has been very good on the ball this season. The young winger has completed 32 successful dribbles with 51.6% dribble success rate. Whilst, that might sound low he is among the 79th percentile for Championship wingers. His dribbling stats suggest he is willing to take players on regardless of whether he beats them. With him beating his marker more times than he doesn’t.

He is also getting himself into great positions and all his goals coming from inside the box make more sense. When it is considered that Rak-Sakyi has made 112 of his 614 touches inside the penalty area.

With his tendency to take on his opponent Rak-Sakyi has been dispossessed 28 times. On a positive note, it has seen him win 18 fouls, suggesting defenders struggle to stop him fairly.

Defensive stats

Rak-Sakyi isn’t all about attacking. He has won 87 duels in his time on the wing and won possession back in the final third, seven times.

Unlike fellow forward, Kieffer Moore, Rak-Sakyi struggles to win his aerial duels with a success rate of 34.8%. Although in fairness, he sits around average among other Championship wingers (52nd percentile) and wasn’t signed for his aerial prowess.

One of the bonuses among his United teammates is Rak-Sakyi’s discipline record picking up just one yellow card.

Three Key Rak-Sakyi Matches

Birthday Brace: Sheffield United 2-0 Luton Town (5 October 2024)

On his 22nd birthday, Rak-Sakyi celebrated with his first two Sheffield United goals. His goals on the 12th and 52nd minute helped the Blades beat fellow relegated side Luton Town.

For his 12th minute goal, Callum O’ Hare brought the ball down outside the box and volleyed in gently into Rak-Sakyi’s direction. With the winger bringing the ball down and beating two defenders to break into the box. Before finishing with ease past Luton’s Thomas Kaminski with his left foot. Before, the first-half ended, Rak-Sakyi used close skill to get around Luton defenders in the box only to have his shot saved by the keeper. He could have had a hat-trick.

His 52nd minute goal, started with Ollie Arblaster playing the ball to Rhian Brewster who played the ball forward to Rak-Sakyi. He again drove into the box beat Luton’s wing-back and this time finished at the near post to score a second. With the Kop rightly erupting. Luton’s Alfie Doughty may hope to never face Rak-Sakyi again.

Outside of his brace, Rak-Sakyi completed 90% of his passes and 80% of his dribbles. With such a great birthday performance he secured the player of the match award.

Goal and Assist: Coventry City 2-2 Sheffield United (23 November 2024)

It seems Rak-Sakyi’s output comes in doubles. On a tricky day for the Blades, the Palace loanee  helped the Blades secure a point despite Anel Ahmedhodzic’s red card.

Impressively, his contributions came in just the first-half as he was substituted for Femi Seriki at half-time.

His goal came after Vinicius Souza played the ball from the halfway line to Gustavo Hamer in the middle of Coventry’s half. The former Coventry man turned and effortlessly played the ball down the wing for Rak-Sakyi to sprint on to. Rak-Sakyi passed the ball at pace first-time across the box for Tyrese Campbell to complete a poacher’s finish. As the Blades took the lead on the 13th minute.

With the game level after Coventry’s equaliser, Rak-Sakyi gave the Blades the lead again on the 34th minute. A great interception in Coventry’s half by Vinicius Souza saw the ball fall to Callum O’Hare who played the ball inside for Hamer. Hamer again found Rak-Sakyi, this time in a more central striker-esque position. Rak-Sakyi scored with his favoured left foot across the goal with Coventry’s Bradley Collins left with no hope of reaching it.

Outside of his goals, Rak-Sakyi completed 75% of his passes, won 100% of his tackles, aerial duels and 60% of his ground duels.

His great first-half performance saw him named in the Championship team of the week and win the FotMob Player of the Match award.

Match Winner: Sheffield United 2-1 Portsmouth (8 February 2025)

A much shorter cameo for Rak-Sakyi playing just 32 minutes. He made his half-an-hour count. With the Blades struggling to take hold of the game against a valiant Portsmouth. Rak-Sakyi showed up on the 73rd minute to deliver the three points.

His goal came from Tom Cannon on the edge of the box playing the ball left to Rhian Brewster. Before, Brewster on the left-side of the box drilled the ball across the box for Rak-Sakyi to get his right foot on the end of it. Firing the ball into the right-bottom corner. His finish was one of his two touches in the opposition’s box and one of 11 total touches.

After the game Rak-Sakyi spoke to club media. He said: “It was great to score today and a great pass from Rhian.”

He also proved his willingness to be a team player. “We all want to achieve the same thing at the end of the season. When you get on the pitch you’ve got to do what you can for the team.”

Takeaways

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has started to come into his own for the Blades in recent matches. If he can keep up his recent form he could end the season as a first-team regular. As well as ending his loan spell with an impressive output of goals and assists.

At just 22, Rak-Sakyi has a bright future ahead. He will be a great benefit to the Blades, Crystal Palace or wherever he ends up beyond this season.