Why Benjamin Šeško is One of Europe’s Most-Watched Young Strikers
- Think Football Ideas
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Benjamin Šeško: The Rapid, Ruthless Forward Drawing Eyes In The Premier League and Across Europe
There’s something about a striker with presence in every sense: physical, tactical, and psychological. The kind of player who commands backlines with stature, glides past defenders with ease, and unleashes shots that make goalkeepers second-guess their positioning. That’s where Benjamin Šeško comes in.
At 22, the Slovenian forward has steadily climbed football’s continental ladder, and now finds himself in the conversation alongside Europe’s most coveted young talents. Tall, quick, and increasingly multidimensional, Šeško has become a player scouts monitor, clubs pursue, and analysts scrutinise. But beyond the buzz, what makes him so compelling?
Here’s why the Slovenian forward has become one of the most closely tracked names in modern football.
He’s Built Like a Bulldozer, But Moves Like a Winger
At nearly two metres tall (6ft5), you’d expect Šeško to bully defenders the old-fashioned way with strength, aerial dominance, and back-to-goal poise. Sure, he can do all of that.
But then he turns on the afterburners and blazes past centre-backs like a winger. Last season, he hit a top speed of 35.7 km/h, which was quick enough to slot him into the pace elite in both the Bundesliga and Premier League comparisons.
That blend of height, power, and acceleration is rare. It gives managers flexibility and defenders headaches. Whether he's running into channels or attacking crosses, he arrives with authority.
His First Full Season Wasn’t A Spark, It Was A Statement
In his first season with RB Leipzig, Šeško didn’t test the waters, he cannonballed into the Bundesliga and made ripples. With 14 league goals and a rate of 0.82 goals per 90 minutes, he ranked only behind Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy. Not bad company to keep when you're still only 20 for most of that campaign.
He didn’t waste chances either, as 13 of his 14 goals came from inside the penalty area. It wasn’t luck or streakiness. It was intelligent movement, spatial awareness, and composure in front of goal. The kind of goal-poacher instincts that big clubs are always trying to buy.
The Evolution Was Rapid, and Intentional
The following season didn’t see him break scoring records, but it did show layers to his game. Šeško started drifting deeper, linking more often, becoming less of a lone finisher and more of a collaborative threat. His touches in the box dropped, but his involvement in buildup play increased. He became harder to predict, and therefore harder to defend.
This new role meant fewer goals (13 in the league), but also more impact across 90 minutes. And his finishing didn’t drop off, as he registered 25 non-penalty goals over two seasons, scoring with both feet and his head, demonstrating a forward with variety and technique, not solely relying on brute force.
He Can Score the Ugly and Outrageous Goals
What sets Šeško apart from many “athletic” forwards today is his ability to strike cleanly from distance. He’s capable of long-range goals that make goalkeepers look rooted.
In his breakout season, he outperformed his expected goals (xG) by +6.3, which was the highest in the league. Even when those numbers came back to earth the next season, he was still among the top 20 for xG overperformance.
That means he doesn’t just finish the chances he’s supposed to, he also invents goals from thin air. Whether it's a bullet from outside the box or a clever finish under pressure, Šeško turns low-percentage situations into high-value returns.
Yes, There Are Gaps, But They’re Normal at This Stage
Šeško isn’t a metronome. He’s had hot streaks, scoring in seven straight Bundesliga games at one point, and spells where the goals dried up. But that volatility isn’t a concern. It’s a sign of a striker still learning the rhythm of elite football. You don’t expect consistency at 21, you look for flashes of dominance. And he’s had plenty of those.
His xG numbers suggest he could get into better positions more often, and his touch map on various platforms shows room to improve decision-making in the final third. But these are all fixable, coachable aspects, especially when the foundation is as solid as his.
Premier League Ready? That’s No Longer a Question
For months, Benjamin Šeško’s name has been floating around the Premier League rumour mill - Manchester United have been tracking him, and Arsenal showed interest earlier. But now? Newcastle United have stepped on the gas.
They’re pushing for a club-record £70 million deal with RB Leipzig, and word is: Šeško wants the move. It makes perfect sense. He matches the English top-flight's tempo, he thrives in chaos, and he carries the kind of profile that clubs love to mould into global stars.
He’s still in the development stage, but make no mistake, Šeško isn’t a “maybe.” He’s a “what if he hits his ceiling?” And that ceiling looks like a striker who can dominate in any top league.
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