Jeremie Boga has had a football attached to his foot since he was just five years old. Growing up in the gritty streets of Marseille, he would often play alongside his older brother Daniel, who is eleven years his senior. Daniel was not only a protective figure in his life but also a guiding force in his burgeoning football career. Now, Boga has become the primary target for AS Roma as they look to provide coach Daniele De Rossi with a winger capable of stretching the play and winning crucial battles on the pitch.
Recently, the top brass at Roma, including CEO Lina Souloukou and sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, had talks with Boga’s agent, Ramadani. While there were discussions about other players like Federico Chiesa and Galeno, the focus was primarily on Boga. He joined Nice just a year ago, largely due to Ghisolfi’s admiration for him from his time at Rennes. The former Sassuolo star is eager to return to Italy, and De Rossi is excited about the unpredictability that Boga brings to the game.
Boga was born in Marseille on January 3, 1997, in a rough neighborhood where it was easy to fall into bad company. His brother Daniel kept him out of trouble, often taking him on motorbike rides to find open football fields. He helped nurture Jeremie’s evident talent, even becoming his first agent before Boga moved to the influential Ramadani management group. Boga’s father worked in construction, while his mother was a caretaker. Despite their challenges, they fully supported Jeremie, allowing his sister to pursue her education as well.
“We come from a working-class area,” Daniel explained. “I tried to give him good advice, but he didn’t need much. Since he was a kid, he had incredible energy; he never stopped. I quickly realized he would become a professional. I knew it when I saw him dribble past older boys and confirmed it when he joined Chelsea at 12, outplaying more experienced players.”
In 2009, Boga was spotted by Chelsea scout Guy Hillion while playing for ASPTT Marseille. He went on to win the UEFA Youth League alongside players like Tammy Abraham and Tomori, establishing himself as one of the Blues’ top talents. Abraham once stated, “The most talented player I’ve played with? Boga, without a doubt.” During his time at Chelsea, he found himself surrounded by stars like Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kanté, yet didn’t manage to make a significant impact under Antonio Conte.
This led to a series of loan spells across Europe, including Rennes, Granada, and finally Sassuolo, where he truly shone. Under coach Roberto De Zerbi, Boga showcased his skills, playing various attacking roles. His ability to take on defenders and provide assists saw him become a standout winger, marking an impressive season in 2019-2020 where he scored eleven goals and set the record for the most dribbles in Serie A.
After attracting interest from Atalanta, he eventually moved to Nice, where he continued to perform well, contributing six goals and six assists. Off the pitch, Boga has a passion for French rap and enjoys Attieké, a cassava-based dish from Ivory Coast, the national team he has chosen to represent after initially playing for France’s youth teams. He is known for his positivity, humility, and strong sense of community, never receiving a yellow card in fifty appearances for Sassuolo.
Now, the stage is set for him to bring that same energy and spirit to Roma. The club needs to fund a transfer fee of around 20 million euros, but solid relationships with Nice and Ramadani’s agency suggest optimism. De Rossi, like De Zerbi before him, is prepared to unleash Boga’s immense talent on the Italian football scene.