Chuba Akpom may not have secured a regular spot in Lille’s starting lineup just yet, but teammate Mitchel Bakker remains confident the forward will prove his worth in time.
Having joined the French side last summer from Ajax, Akpom’s first season has been anything but smooth. Limited minutes on the pitch have made it challenging for him to fully integrate, yet Bakker insists the striker’s positive spirit and relentless work ethic are impossible to ignore.
“He’s a great guy, always smiling, who creates a good dynamic in the dressing room,” Bakker said in a chat with the club’s website. “He also trains hard. He’s in a period where he’s not playing a lot, but he’s really giving his all to prove that he’s a great player. I’m sure he’ll score some goals that will count.”
Bakker’s comments highlight Akpom’s commitment behind the scenes, as the player continues to fight for his opportunity to make a significant impact in Ligue 1.
Editorial
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We often judge players on goals, assists, and game time. But football, at its core, is just as much about resilience as it is about statistics. Chuba Akpom’s journey at Lille serves as a timely reminder that talent sometimes needs time and the right moment to flourish.
Let’s not forget, that Akpom arrived at Lille with high expectations after an impressive spell in the Netherlands. His pedigree is not in question. What he faces now is a test of patience, character, and adaptation. Not every player hits the ground running, and Ligue 1’s tactical rigour and physicality can be an entirely different beast compared to other leagues.
Mitchel Bakker’s public backing isn’t mere dressing-room talk. It reflects something tangible: a player who has earned the respect of his teammates through dedication, not headlines. That attitude is often the deciding factor between players who fade out quietly and those who fight their way into relevance.
We believe Akpom has the qualities to break through. But what’s more inspiring is the fact that even when the spotlight is dim, he continues to train hard and uplift the squad. That’s the spirit clubs need. That’s the kind of professionalism that sustains careers.
When Akpom finally gets his run of games and he will it won’t be by accident. It’ll be the reward for staying ready. And when those goals come, as Bakker predicted, they won’t just change scorelines. They’ll tell a story of grit, patience, and perseverance.
Did You Know?
- Chuba Akpom was born in England but represented Nigeria at senior international level for the first time in 2023.
- Before joining Lille, Akpom was the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie during the 2022/23 season.
- Akpom started his career at Arsenal and made his senior debut for the club at just 17 years old.
- Lille OSC won the Ligue 1 title in 2020–21, breaking Paris Saint-Germain’s domestic dominance.
- Mitchel Bakker previously played for Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Bayer Leverkusen and later Lille.
