FotMob Young Player of the Month: Monaco’s Lamine Camara

Awarded in conjunction with Rising Ballers, past winners of FotMob’s monthly GOAT award include Yan Diomandé and Eliot Anderson. This month, we headed out to Monaco to meet one of the most in demand midfielders in Europe.

By Ben McAleer

According to French publication L’Equipe, Monaco needed to raise €150m through player sales over the summer. They brought in significant funds from the sales of Aladji Bamba, Maghnes Akliouche, Caio Henrique and Kassoum Ouattara.

Then deadline day rolled around, and there was one more high-profile exit on the cards. Both Folarin Balogun and Lamine Camara were linked with Premier League transfers. Balogun was set for a move to Everton. Then Camara was on the cusp of a Chelsea switch. After a deal seemingly fell through, Balogun’s switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium was back on again, which saw Monaco pull the plug on Camara’s move to Chelsea.

Lamine Camara with his GOAT

“There was a possibility I could leave. It didn’t go through at the last minute and that’s part of football,” Camara said ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Strasbourg. “I’ve turned the page and am focusing on the season. It’s part of a professional player’s life. I managed to stay professional and not dwell on it too much. Once it’s happened there’s no point in thinking about it again.”

Balogun’s decision to walk away from the Everton deal at the last moment meant Monaco retained the services of the pair. Balogun is yet to play for Filipe Luis’ side this season due to injury. Conversely, Camara has playing a starring role in Monaco’s flying start to the 2026/27 Ligue 1 campaign.

After four matches, Monaco have picked up 10 points. They’ve beaten Marseille and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in that time. Paris Brunner is the club’s leading scorer with three goals. Creative star Aleksandr Golovin has two assists to his name. The heartbeat of the team, however, has been Camara.

That’s to be expected. The 21-year-old, after all, is one of the hottest midfield prospects on the continent. If anything, the flying start to the season is par for course for the Senegalese star. The fine showings against the backdrop of regular transfer talk elevates the quality of his displays. Camara didn’t allow speculation surrounding his future to affect his displays under Luis.

Camara’s defensive numbers in Ligue 1 this season

Rather, Camara has thrived under the spotlight. The Senegal international has utilised his ball-winning capability to great effect. Indeed, he’s made more tackles (24) than any other player in the 2026/27 Ligue 1 campaign. He’s only been dribbled past four times across the opening matches of the season, returning an impressive 85.7% tackle success rate in the process. No outfield player has made more ball recoveries (37) than Camara.

It means Monaco have the joint-best defensive record in the division having shipped just twice. One of those was from a set-piece situation, the other was an own goal, this despite the Principality side mustering just a 43% possession haul, the third lowest in France’s top tier this term.

Considering Luis’ demands that his team sit deeper to soak up possession, it’s hardly a shock that Camara has been able to showcase his out-of-possession qualities.

What’s noticeable, though, is that Camara has been hugely effective on the ball once he does win possession back. 225 passes is more than any other Monaco player. A 92.9% pass success rate is the joint-best for the French giants. 42 forward passes ranks sixth for Luis’ side, which is important for a Monaco outfit that does ultimately rely on quick transitions once they win the ball back. 

Camara’s passing stats in Ligue 1 this season

A change in shape from a three-man backline deployed by Sebastien Pocognoli to a 4-2-3-1 has lessened the need for Camara to utilise his creative qualities. Operating alongside the experienced Denis Zakaria at the base of the midfield, Camara has created just three chances in the opening weeks of the season.

Rather, there is a greater onus on Golovin to pry apart defences, with Luis implementing a strict defensive structure. This was a priority for the former Flamengo boss, whose first port of call was to tighten up a Monaco side that conceded the fourth most goals (54) in Ligue 1.

A change in shape and gameplan, however, hasn’t impacted Camara. Instead, he’s thrived with the increased defensive responsibility that comes with playing as the number six in the 4-2-3-1 formation. It means that the attacking players have the freedom to work their magic in the final third.

Not only does Russian star Golovin rank top for chances created, but France-born Belgian youngster Stanis Idumbo is top for successful dribbles (8). They can carry out their attacking duties, safe in the knowledge that Camara is mopping up in front of the defence.

Chelsea’s failure to sign Camara, then, is a huge blow for the Blues, but it’s proven beneficial for a Monaco side that has started strongly under Luis. The departure of key players hasn’t hindered his opening months at the Stade Louis II. It’s the final – and fortunate – decision to retain Camara’s services that has allowed Monaco to make a superb start to the domestic campaign.

And with that, Camara is a worthy winner of the FotMob Young Player of the Month award. Many would have kicked up a fuss over a failed deadline day move to a top-tier Premier League side. Camara, though, has gotten his head down and played a starring role in Monaco’s unbeaten season so far. Retaining the youngster’s services, even inadvertently, could prove the best decision they ever made.

(Cover image from IMAGO, other images from Rising Ballers)

The FotMob Young Player of the Month Award is decided by virtue of average FotMob match ratings and run in conjunction with Rising Ballers. For all related content, make sure you follow @fotmobapp and @RisingBallers on Instagram.

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