Not long ago, Ousmane Dembélé was seen as a player full of promise but always just out of reach, brilliant in moments, but never quite consistent. Fast forward to today, and he’s become one of the driving forces behind Paris Saint-Germain’s greatest season. Under the calm guidance of Luis Enrique, Dembélé has evolved into more than just a quick pair of feet on the wing.
He’s matured mentally sharper, tactically aware, and is finally delivering when it matters most. In a season where PSG lifted their first-ever Champions League trophy, Dembélé didn’t just play a part; he defined it. This isn’t a comeback story. It’s the arrival of the player he was always meant to be.
From Frustration in Barcelona to a New Chapter in Paris
When Ousmane Dembélé signed for FC Barcelona in 2017, he arrived with the weight of expectation. Tasked with replacing Neymar, his €105 million transfer was one of the most expensive in football history. But over the next six seasons, Dembélé’s spell at Camp Nou was a mixture of electric potential and disappointing inconsistency. Plagued by repeated injuries and inconsistent form, he often found himself sidelined—both literally and figuratively.
In total, he made 153 La Liga appearances, scoring 34 goals and providing 34 assists, averaging around 0.22 goal involvements per match (FBref). His dribbling and flair never disappeared, but Barcelona’s tactical rigidity often limited his impact. It became difficult to determine whether he was simply unlucky or if the environment at Barça failed to nurture his style of play.
A Reunion and a Revival Under Luis Enrique
Dembélé’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 reunited him with Luis Enrique, his former coach at Barcelona. Enrique’s vision for Dembélé was different. No longer just a right-winger stuck to the touchline, he was transformed into a central attacking threat roaming between the lines, exploiting half-spaces, and pressing with intent.
This switch in role allowed Dembélé to become more influential than ever. Enrique gave him the freedom to drift inside, dictate tempo, and contribute to the build-up. He wasn’t just an end-product player anymore; he was now involved in every phase of attack.
With PSG’s tactical setup allowing for fluid front-line rotations, Dembélé quickly became the centerpiece. Whether it was linking up with Kylian Mbappé, combining with Kang-in Lee, or pressing high to create turnovers, his evolution into a modern forward was stunning.
The Numbers That Tell the Story
| Competition | Goals | Assists | Games | G+A per 90’ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ligue 1 24/25 | 21 | 6 | 29 | 1.40 |
| All Competitions 24/25 | 35 | 16 | 51 | – |
His non-penalty xG jumped to 1.03 per 90, placing him in the 99th percentile among Ligue 1 attackers. His key passes per game also rose to 3.30, while his crossing accuracy improved to 35%, showing tangible growth in his decision-making and delivery (FBref Advanced Stats).
One of the season’s defining moments came in the Champions League Final against Inter Milan, where Dembélé delivered two assists in a 5–0 victory—sealing PSG’s first-ever UCL title. He also scored a hat-trick earlier in the group stage against Stuttgart, solidifying his role as a reliable match-winner (UEFA).
Mentality Shift: From Flashes of Talent to Relentless Hunger
What stood out most wasn’t just Dembélé’s stats; it was his shift in attitude. Once known for drifting out of games, he became relentless without the ball, pressing with purpose and running smartly into space. When a minor injury threatened to sideline him before the Champions League semifinal against Arsenal, the old Dembélé might’ve sat it out. But this version pushed through the pain, stepped up, and made the difference. That change didn’t happen overnight; it came from the trust and freedom Luis Enrique gave him. In return, Dembélé became the kind of player who delivers when it truly counts.
A Tactical System That Finally Fits
The tactical freedom Dembélé enjoyed at Paris Saint-Germain was crucial in unlocking his best version. Under Luis Enrique, PSG often played in a fluid 3-2-5 formation during possession, giving Dembélé the license to drift inside, link up with midfielders, and make devastating diagonal runs from deep. No longer stuck out wide like in his Barcelona days, where he was often forced into predictable one-on-one situations, he became a hybrid attacker, sometimes the creator, sometimes the finisher.
Football analyst coverage from El País described him as the embodiment of Luis Enrique’s “false winger” system players who drift centrally and attack vertically. His technical skills, vision, and positional fluidity made him perfect for it.
From Flop to Ballon d’Or Contender
By the end of the 2024–25 season, Dembélé wasn’t just in form; he was in the Ballon d’Or conversation. With a domestic treble, 51 direct goal contributions across competitions, and multiple assists in the Champions League final, he became a genuine contender. French outlet L’Équipe even described his UCL final display as “impérial.” Even when PSG narrowly lost the FIFA Club World Cup final, Dembélé stood out among their best performers calm, mature, and crucial in transitions.
Final Whistle: The Redemption Arc We Didn’t Expect
Ousmane Dembélé’s story has flipped from a cautionary tale to one of football’s most powerful redemption arcs. What began as an injury-laden spell at Barcelona has transformed into a career-defining chapter in Paris. It wasn’t just tactics that changed him; it was mindset, belief, and consistent backing from Luis Enrique. Dembélé stopped relying solely on flair and started mastering structure, responsibility, and timing. Now, with silverware in hand and the Ballon d’Or within reach, he’s no longer the player of “what could’ve been”; he’s the one proving everyone wrong, one big night at a time.
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Sagnik Banerjee