EFL rising star: Jordan Zemura

AFC Bournemouth, led by former Fulham boss Scott Parker, have fielded several youngsters in key roles so far this season. The likes of Gavin Kilkenny, Jaidon Anthony and Mark Travers have gained plaudits but another man on that list is left-back Jordan Zemura.

So far

Born in Lambeth, Jordan Zemura has been capped twice for the Zimbabwean national team due to family heritage. He played for three clubs during his youth career, two before joining Bournemouth. Those two were QPR and Charlton.

©Getty / James Gill - Danehouse

He has followed a similar path to another Cherries' youngster Jaidon Anthony by coming through in London before being moulded by Bournemouth’s impressive finishing school, which has been heavily influenced by former manager Eddie Howe.

Zemura made two appearances last season in the Championship but hadn’t really broken through into the first-team, properly, until now. 

Eight starts in eight games later, Zemura is gaining a reputation for himself. with Bournemouth currently top of the Championship table having not lost a game. The 21-year-old has been a key man in that run and has even contributed in an attacking sense.

The flying full-back notched a brace a fortnight or so ago as Bournemouth hammered one of last season’s losing playoff semi-finalists Barnsley by three goals to nil. It is always impressive for a player of such limited experience to be able to contribute such meaningful aspects to a successful team.

Attributes in abundance

Alongside the attacking touch that he obviously showed in that victory over Barnsley, it is his defensive attributes that have gained most praise this season. A strong core on the ball allows Zemura to intercept in his flow and start an attacking movement from there.

According to WhoScored.com, his average rating of 7.29 across the season so far has him as the 17th most effective and in-form player in the division. No full-back is ahead of him so if you were to do an eight-game team of the season, he’d be straight in that eleven.

His numbers for interceptions, blocks and clearances are hampered, in terms of divisional comparisons, by the collective control that Bournemouth show and their reliance on a tight defensive unit. He is yet to miss a single minute of Championship football, however, and his individual stats make for interesting reading if read alongside his peers at The Vitality Stadium. 

Zemura has won the second-most tackles (13) for Bournemouth in the Championship this season, in addition to making more interceptions (12) and blocking more shots (4) and more crosses (5) than any Cherries player. He has, interestingly, also won 24 fouls for his side, nearly twice as many as any other Bournemouth player. 

Future

The immediate future for Zemura is a promotion challenge with AFC Bournemouth. It is a club that did not fully utilise its strong youth system last season following their demotion from the top flight in 2019/20, the south coast side arguably paying the price for relying on the bloated remnants of their old Premier League squad.

As part of a streamlined and cohesive unit, both in attack and defence, Zemura will be anticipating a Premier League career should he continue on his current trajectory.

His boss Parker was famed for his desire to improve and ability to raise his game and it appears that Zemura may be cut from similar cloth, his manager already praising his young defender's attitude. 

“He’s been excellent since he’s come in and got the shirt," said Parker a few weeks ago. 

“He’s an attack-minded full back, gets us up the pitch and got lovely a forward drive about him.

“Defensively, I think he’s improving...from the minute I first walked in he’s someone that’s shown me he wants the shirt, shown me he wants to improve, work hard and has earned the right to get his opportunity. Now he’s relishing it.”

🏆 Most victories in 21/22 (top 4 tier teams; all domestic comps):

8⃣✅: 🐈‍⬛SUNDERLAND🐈‍⬛
7⃣✅: Stoke
6⃣✅: Bournemouth, Fulham, Wimbledon, Forest Green#SAFC pic.twitter.com/jowMlUqNDq

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 22, 2021