Player Profile: Benjamin Pavard

Bayern Munich have always looked for the best talent possible in the Bundesliga which has enabled them to dominate the German top flight poaching the likes of Michael Ballack, Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski, Matt Hummels, Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka, etc. With Matt Hummels and Jerome Boateng ageing, they have signed French defender Benjamin Pavard from Stuttgart for a reported fee of €35 million. So who is this World Cup winning defender?

Benjamin Pavard was born on March 28th, 1996 in Maubeuge, France. A town close to the Belgian border. He stated his playing career at his hometown club US Jeumont before moving to Ligue 1 side Lille in 2005 where he stayed for eleven years. He made his debut for Lille on January 31st 2015 in a Ligue 1 tie against FC Nantes. However, across his two seasons with Lille, he made just 21 appearances before deciding to leave Lille for pastures new.

Pavard moved to German side VfB Stuttgart in August 2016 as Stuttgart were playing in 2. Bundesliga(Germany's second division) for the first time in four decades. In his first season at Stuttgart, he played 21 times as Stuttgart earning promotion to the Bundesliga with Pavard playing centre-back, right-back and defensive midfield, showing his versatility.

In his first season in the Bundesliga, which was last season, he played every minute of league action but with the appointment of Tayfun Korkut in January 2018, he was deployed exclusively at centre-back where Stuttgart conceded 10 in 14 Bundesliga games. Stuttgart had the third meanest defence in the league last season finishing 7th, one place off the Europa League spots.

Pavard had a fine season for Stuttgart. According to Squawka, he made the most clearances (182), most aerial duels won (102) and most interceptions (70). Pavard is a good reader of the game as he doesn't like to dive into tackles and is an aerial threat from set-pieces. 

Pavard made his international debut for France in a 2-0 friendly win against Wales in November 2017. France head coach Didier Deschamps selected Pavard as part of his 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia where he started in every game for Les Bleus  except against Denmark as France went on and won the World Cup. Pavard scored his first international goal in the Round of 16 tie against Argentina scoring a beautiful volley from long range. That goal was voted Goal of the tournament.

So far this season for Stuttgart, he has made 14 appearances in the Bundesliga making 1.1 tackles per game, 1.9 interceptions per game and 7.4 clearances per game. Subject of transfer interest after his exploits at the World Cup from Tottenham, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Bayern made the move and Pavard will be a Bayern player by July 1st.  A World Cup winner at 22 and one of the most talented young defenders, what does the future hold for the man from Maubeuge?