Who is Willian Pacho? The defensive machine eyed by Arsenal & Liverpool

Peter Staunton

Updated: 20 Apr 2024 14:16 BST
4 min read

Willian Pacho, Eintracht Frankfurt — © IMAGO

Ecuadorian centre back Willian Pacho has emerged as one of the outstanding young players in his position anywhere across Europe this season.

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The 22-year-old is a key fixture in Dino Toppmuller’s Eintracht Frankfurt side, who look in terrific shape to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round.

The Eagles are currently placed sixth in the Bundesliga, beating Augsburg in a league game on Friday night.

Pacho has featured in every minute of every game bar one for Frankfurt this season, playing consistently and with a calmness and maturity that belies his tender years.

His form has been so impressive that some of the biggest teams in Europe are now queuing up in an attempt to secure his signature, with Frankfurt asking for between €50 million and €60m before they let him go.

In the Premier League, Liverpool and Arsenal are intent on securing his services, with big changes afoot in the backline at Anfield and Mikel Arteta seeking to add to his options in defence.

© IMAGO - Willian Pacho Hugo Larsson Eintracht Frankfurt

Joel Matip will leave Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer while there are considerable question marks over the endurance capabilities of Ibrahima Konate.

Accordingly, the Reds are making plans for a new centre back this summer with Pacho rocketing to the top of the list.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have ambitions of soon winning the Premier League title and will need a deeper squad to do so; they are deeply reliant on first-choice centre-back duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba and could do with alternatives in the position.

How good is Willian Pacho?

The 10-cap Ecuador international has been a breakout star in the Bundesliga this season.

The elegant defender has only been with Frankfurt since last summer having moved from Royal Antwerp as a Belgian league and cup champion.

He first emerged as a youth team player at Independiente del Valle, the same club that produced Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie, winning a first-ever Ecuadorian league title for the club in 2021.

Pacho was then scouted by Antwerp, signing in January 2022, and winning the double last season, usually playing in a central defensive partnership with Toby Alderweireld.

The fee which took the defender to Frankfurt was reported to be an initial €9m but the German side have set a far higher asking price for interested parties this summer. With a contract extending until 2028, Frankfurt’s investment is well protected.

If that fee is met then Frankfurt will look to go into the market for a replacement with PAOK’s Konstantinos Koulierakis now linked.

What position does Willian Pacho play?

Pacho offers assuredness in possession from the left side of defence, and is not afraid of playing forward passes through the lines. A left-footer, he is capable of spreading play to the wings.

He is no slouch either, known as one of the quickest defenders in the league.

What clubs are interested in Willian Pacho?

Arsenal and Liverpool are reported to be the keenest parties for Pacho’s signature with Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg advising earlier this year that both sides were in the chase.