AS Saint-Étienne Teammate Ben Old Praises Augustine Boakye

Augustine Boakye has emerged as a central figure in AS Saint-Étienne’s push toward the top of the Ligue 2 standings, drawing high praise from teammate Ben Old as the club weighs its future options for the 25-year-old midfielder. The French club sits at the summit of the table ahead of a ninth-matchday fixture against second-place Red Star at Stade Bauer, scheduled for 20:00 local time on Saturday. Boakye enters the match riding a scoring streak that has seen him find the back of the net in five consecutive league games, establishing himself as one of the most productive attacking players in the division.

Ben Old Endorses Boakye’s Quality in Training and Matches

Speaking to reporters ahead of the trip to Stade Bauer, Ben Old offered an unfiltered assessment of his teammate’s impact on the squad. Honnêtement Augustine Boakye, c’est l’un des meilleurs joueurs avec qui j’ai joué dans ma carrière, Old stated. Il a une vraie personnalité, une vraie identité dans son jeu, je suis heureux de le voir à ce niveau de performance en ce moment. Tout ce que vous voyez de lui en match, nous, on le vit aussi à l’entrainement et c’est impressionnant. Old’s public remarks underscore the appreciation for a player whose recent performances have elevated Saint-Étienne’s offensive output under Ian Cathro. Il fait partie des joueurs de l’effectif qui ont de très belles qualités, il est dans une forme incroyable en ce moment, added Old.

A Scoring Streak Built on Spectacular Finishes

Boakye’s current run of form features several high-profile goals that have caught the attention of observers across French football. The midfielder began his streak with a curling effort into the top corner away to Dijon in a 3-2 victory, followed by a precise strike against Montpellier in a 3-1 win and a 50-metre surging run in a 2-2 draw at Metz. He added another goal in a 2-1 defeat of Dunkerque before scoring a standout effort in a 2-0 win over Rodez. In that match against Rodez, Boakye controlled a lofted ball from Jakob Breum with a sombrero over a defender before finishing with a low right-footed volley that struck the post and crossed the line. Teammate Sohaib Naïr remarked that Boakye ne sait pas marquer normalement, highlighting the spectacular nature of his finishes. Sohaib Naïr also stated, C’est du Augustine, il ne met que des top buts. Boakye’s sombrero goal against Rodez drew comparisons to a strike by Neymar during the 2015-2016 La Liga season for Barcelona against Villarreal. Parlant après le match contre Rodez, Boakye a noté : Le but ? J’ai juste tenté et Dieu merci j’ai réussi. On mérite de gagner. On a bien gardé le ballon, on l’a bien fait. J’espère, j’espère.

Managerial Perspective and Tactical Evolution

Ian Cathro acknowledged Boakye’s exceptional output while expressing a desire for continued all-around development. J’espère qu’il marquera aussi des buts faciles à deux mètres de la cage !, Cathro told reporters after the Rodez fixture. Des buts comme celui qu’il marque ce soir nous rappellent pourquoi on aime le football. Mais je sais qu’il peut faire encore plus. Providing additional context on the player’s progression, Olivier Dall’Oglio noted that Boakye required an adjustment period upon his arrival from Wolfsberger in the summer of 2024 for a fee of 3 M€. Dall’Oglio pointed out that Boakye’s improved comfort with the language and his tactical integration into a deeper midfield role have unlocked his technical ability, endurance, and defensive commitment. Olivier Dall’Oglio also observed regarding Boakye’s early struggles, Il ne parlait pas la langue, il était en découverte totale de la Ligue 1, une marche un peu haute à l’époque. Dall’Oglio further remarked, Ça ne me surprend pas de le voir éclore maintenant. Il y a des joueurs qui sont plus lents dans leur progression. Il a pris de la maturité. J’ai le souvenir d’un gros travailleur et d’un garçon agréable au quotidien.

Contract Discussions and Transfer Market Valuation

With five goals and three assists across his first eight appearances of the 2026–2027 season, Boakye has justified Kilmer Sports Ventures’ decision to retain him during the previous summer transfer window despite interest from European suitors including Anderlecht, Norwich, and Wrexham. Currently under contract until June 2028 and valued at 6 M€ by Transfermarkt, Boakye is the subject of ongoing discussions between club management and his representatives regarding a contract extension. The sporting direction aims to secure an improved framework that reflects his rising market value ahead of potential transfer windows in 2027, as European clubs continue to monitor the player’s development in Ligue 2.

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