8th Feb 2024 • Written by Henry Swain

David Ozoh: Crystal Palace's 1%

David Ozoh is a name that has provided Palace fans with a hint of positivity amidst a season of relative disappointment. Poor performances on the pitch, coupled with a lack of direction, have seen the fans have little to shout about, but the academy at the South London club has been a glimmer of hope.

For the most part, this series has highlighted players either in the academy sides at Crystal Palace or out on loan, but still some distance from the first team. However, in this edition, we look at a player who has very much made a claim for a spot in the starting eleven. So, can David Ozoh be Crystal Palace’s 1%?

Who is David Ozoh?

David Ikechukwu Ozoh is a Valencia-born English youth international who has been at Palace since the age of eight. At just eighteen years old, he has fast-tracked through the age groups, and this season he found himself on the bench for the first team on ten occasions, featuring in seven of those games.

Ozoh originally played in attack, scoring goals for fun at youth level before transitioning into midfield as he developed, now best operating as an all-action box-to-box midfielder. Throughout his time at Palace, Ozoh has played above his age, featuring four times for the under-18s in the 2020–21 season when he was only sixteen. Ahead of the 2021/22 season, he trained with Paddy McCarthy's under-23s before making twenty-three appearances for the under-18s that season.

The infamous pre-season tour to Singapore and Australia saw Ozoh travel with the first-team squad for the first time. He went on to feature in fourteen of the opening fifteen games of the under-21 season, still only seventeen years old. In August 2022, he earned his first pro contract, a five-year deal that will run until 2027.

After signing his pro deal, Ozoh was rewarded with four appearances on the first-team bench. His first taste of senior minutes came in 2023, when, aged seventeen years and eight months, he became Palace’s youngest-ever Premier League player, making a four-minute cameo in a 0-0 draw against Newcastle at Selhurst Park.

This landmark was followed by a first international call-up to England’s under-18s in a season where he made 38 appearances for the under-18s and under-21s, scoring twice and being named under-21 player of the season.

This season has seen full-time first-team involvement for Ozoh. He has featured on nine occasions (all competitions) for a combined 159 minutes, including a spell of over an hour away to treble winners Manchester City. With injuries to important first-team players and a lack of depth and quality in the midfield area, Ozoh will likely play an important role as the season continues.

Analysing Ozoh’s ability…

Physically, Ozoh is far ahead of his peers. The fact that he could still be playing under-18 football is mind-blowing considering the distance he is from that level. In his appearance at the Etihad, he was introduced in the 34th minute and played a vital role in the side’s two-goal recovery, being heavily involved in the 95th minute penalty that drew the game for Palace. Competing against the likes of Rodri in midfield, Ozoh did not look a toe out of place.

Defensively, he is consistent, playing a crucial part in defensive transitions when possession is turned over. He is unsurprisingly strong in the challenge and wins an impressive 55% of his aerial duels. He has shown that he has the engine to recover if possession is lost but also to win the ball back and spring counter-attacks. He also offers height from set-pieces, an area that Palace lack in the first team, having struggled to defend corners and freekicks but also completely failing to score from them going the other way. With Chris Richards playing out of position, there is certainly a debate to be had as to why Ozoh has not featured more frequently in the Premier League. 

Ozoh’s technical ability is slightly unexpected, given his frame. He is delicate on the ball and dribbles with elite composure. On the half-turn, he thrives, using his body to deceive opponents and hold off challenges with ease. His ability is equal on both his left and right feet, making him unpredictable and difficult to defend against. The composure he shows in possession could add a much-needed presence to a first-team squad that has been playing under pressure and lacked the confidence of Cheick Doucouré since his injury at Kenilworth Road.

Going forward, it is evident that Ozoh used to play in attack. His positioning is excellent, thriving when he arrives late into the box for tap-ins. His finishing ability is strong on both feet, and his general forward play is very good, with an amazing 88% average pass accuracy this season, which is higher than every single midfielder in the Palace squad. His ability to take progressive first touches demonstrates a forward-thinking nature that the first team have lacked this season.

Mentality is a key feature that can help suggest how a young player may fare going forward, but David Ozoh is seemingly perfectly set up to have a successful career at Palace. Firstly, he is a fan of the club, and that cannot be taken for granted. In his post-match interview following the 3-2 victory at home to Sheffield United, he explained how he is “so grateful to come on in front of these fans; they’re the best in the league. They love it when you play for the badge, and I’ve always wanted to get that tackle in and get the fans going.” He plays with a passion that, until recently, had been synonymous with Crystal Palace Football Club, a spark of positivity in what has otherwise been a glum season for the fans in SE25. It has been said that Ozoh trains every session as if it were his last, described as extremely humble by those close to him. These are traits that have seen players rise to the heights of the football world.

Not only has Ozoh featured at the home of the English Champions, but also in heated circumstances against arch-rivals Brighton. He featured in the 1-1 draw in December and showed great composure and poise to fit into a tense game. His natural leadership and belief in his ability pour onto the pitch when he plays, with an overwhelming sense of calm when he is on the ball.

David Ozoh has already staked a strong claim to be in Hodgson’s starting XI, and at just 18 years old, he genuinely does have the world at his feet. He needs to be managed well, both by coaching staff and agents, to ensure that he keeps his feet on the ground while also aiming for the top. If he can do that, there is no question he can become a starter for Palace and be part of that 1%.

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