CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña |
| League | La Liga |
| Manager | Antonio Hidalgo |
| Stadium | Abanca-Riazor |
| Nickname | Dépor / Los Blanquiazules |
| Founded | 1906 |
| First-Choice Striker | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang |
| Supporting Forward | Zakaria Eddahchouri |
| Young Striker | Bil Nsongo |
| Marquee Free Transfer | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (free) |
The Defining Moment
Deportivo’s return to La Liga after eight seasons was always going to require a statement signing, but few expected the statement to be a 37-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese striker arrived free from Marseille, a player whose CV includes Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Marseille, and whose goalscoring record in Europe’s top five leagues is among the most consistent of his generation. The club’s sporting director, Fernando Soriano, was unequivocal when the deal was completed: “With Aubameyang we consider the forward line closed”.
The defining moment, however, was not the signing itself. It was the opening match of the season, when Aubameyang scored Dépor’s first La Liga goal in eight years—a trademark control and finish from Amatucci’s pass, the kind of goal that no other forward in the squad could have produced. For a newly promoted side, that moment represented something more valuable than nostalgia: proof that the gamble on an ageing superstar could deliver immediate returns.
This is the story of Dépor’s 2026/27 forwards: a three-man attack built around a veteran icon, supported by a young Cameroonian and a promising Spaniard, and defined by the question of whether Aubameyang’s goals can keep a promoted side in the top flight.
Tactical Context
Antonio Hidalgo’s attacking structure has been built around Aubameyang as the focal point. The 4-2-3-1 that Dépor have used in the majority of matches places the Gabonese striker through the middle, with Yeremay Hernández and Bil Nsongo providing width and Mario Soriano operating as the creative link between midfield and attack.
The numbers tell a story of a forward line that has been efficient without being prolific. Dépor scored 13 goals in their opening nine league matches, a respectable return for a newly promoted side. Aubameyang contributed four of those in his first seven appearances, including the opening goal of the season against Elche and the winner at Villarreal. His expected goals and shot volume placed him among the more active strikers in the division’s lower half.
The supporting cast has been fluid. Bil Nsongo started the opening fixtures alongside Aubameyang, his pace and directness offering a different dimension to the veteran’s more measured approach. Zakaria Eddahchouri has been used primarily from the bench, his physical profile providing a target-man option when Hidalgo has sought to change the shape of a match. The absence of a fourth senior striker has meant that Dépor’s attacking depth is thinner than the manager would like.
The injury to Aubameyang, sustained in the autumn, exposed the fragility of the forward line. Without him, Dépor lacked a proven goalscorer, and the burden fell on Nsongo and Eddahchouri, neither of whom had established themselves as reliable La Liga scorers. The club’s decision to close the forward line after Aubameyang’s arrival, rather than adding a fourth option, looked like a gamble that had not fully accounted for the risks of relying on a 37-year-old.
The Forwards
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang is Dépor’s first-choice striker, the marquee signing of the summer, and the player upon whom the club’s attacking hopes depend. The 37-year-old arrived free from Marseille, bringing a goalscoring record that includes over 300 career goals and a reputation as one of the most reliable finishers of his generation.
His start to life at the Riazor was immediate. He scored on his debut against Elche, a controlled finish from Amatucci’s pass that demonstrated the movement and composure that had persuaded Dépor to bring him to Galicia. He followed that with goals against Málaga, Valencia, Villarreal and Getafe, a run that vindicated the club’s decision to invest in experience over potential.
The concern was always durability. At 37, Aubameyang cannot be expected to start every match, and the injury that interrupted his season was a reminder of that reality. When fit, he remains Dépor’s most reliable source of goals—a player whose positioning and finishing are of a standard that few defenders in the lower half of La Liga can handle. When absent, the forward line loses its focal point and its most potent threat.
Bil Nsongo
Nsongo is the young forward tasked with complementing Aubameyang. The Cameroonian started the opening fixtures, his pace and willingness to run the channels offering a contrast to the veteran’s more static presence through the middle.
His profile is that of a developing forward rather than a finished product. Nsongo’s movement is raw, his finishing inconsistent, and his decision-making in the final third still maturing. But his energy and directness have value in a team that often relies on transitions rather than sustained possession. He is not yet a reliable goalscorer, but he is a genuine option.
At his age, Nsongo has time. The question is whether Dépor can afford to wait for him to develop while fighting for survival. In a forward line this thin, every player must contribute, and Nsongo’s contribution has been measured in effort rather than output.
Zakaria Eddahchouri
Eddahchouri is the physical alternative to Aubameyang. The striker, signed as part of the three-man forward line that Soriano declared complete in August, offers a different profile: taller, stronger, more comfortable with his back to goal.
His involvement has been primarily from the bench, used when Hidalgo has sought to change the shape of a match or provide a target for long balls. His goal at Villarreal, a late equaliser in the 3-2 victory, demonstrated his value in the box—a poacher’s finish that turned a point into three.
At his best, Eddahchouri is a handful for defenders. At his worst, he drifts out of games and struggles to link play. In a squad that lacks depth, his contribution will be measured in moments rather than consistency.
Yeremay Hernández
Yeremay is nominally a wide forward, but his importance to Dépor’s attack extends beyond goals and assists. The 23-year-old is the team’s most creative player, a dribbler capable of beating defenders in one-on-one situations and creating space for others.
His partnership with Asp Jensen, swapping positions between the left flank and the central attacking zone, has been one of the more encouraging aspects of Dépor’s season. Yeremay’s ability to break lines and draw fouls in dangerous areas makes him a valuable outlet, even when he is not scoring.
Adama Traoré
Traoré arrived on a free transfer from West Ham in late August, signing until 2028. The former Barcelona and Wolves winger brings Premier League and La Liga experience, and his physical profile—explosive pace and strength—offers something different to Dépor’s other wide options.
His involvement has been limited by fitness and the form of others, but his pedigree is undeniable. At his best, Traoré is a match-winner. At 30, he still possesses the pace to trouble defenders, and his experience could be valuable in the second half of the season.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Deportivo Forward La Liga Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Goals | Assists | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 7 (7) | 4 | 0 | Striker |
| Bil Nsongo | 7 (5) | 0 | 0 | Forward |
| Zakaria Eddahchouri | 6 (2) | 1 | 0 | Striker |
| Yeremay Hernández | 7 (7) | 1 | 1 | Wide Forward |
| Adama Traoré | 5 (2) | 0 | 0 | Winger |
TABLE B: Deportivo Attack – Key Metrics (La Liga 2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 13 | In 9 matches |
| Goals per Game | 1.44 | Mid-table |
| Aubameyang Goal Share | 4 of 13 | 31% of team goals |
| Aubameyang Goals per 90 | 0.57 | Among La Liga’s better rates |
| Forward Line Size | 3 senior strikers | Closed after Aubameyang |
TABLE C: Deportivo Forwards – Squad Profile
| Player | Age | Contract Until | Market Value | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 37 | 2028 | €4m | First-choice striker |
| Zakaria Eddahchouri | 26 | 2029 | €3m | Rotation/physical option |
| Bil Nsongo | 20 | 2030 | €5m | Development/rotation |
| Yeremay Hernández | 23 | 2029 | €10m | Wide forward/creator |
| Adama Traoré | 30 | 2028 | €6m | Wide option |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Dépor’s forward line is a study in calculated risk. The club chose to invest its experience quota in Aubameyang, a 37-year-old with a proven goalscoring record but an inevitable decline in physical capacity. The supporting cast—Nsongo, Eddahchouri, Yeremay, Traoré—offers variety but not guaranteed output.
The numbers suggest the gamble has worked, at least in the short term. Aubameyang’s four goals in seven matches represent a respectable return for a newly promoted side, and his presence has given Dépor a focal point that the other forwards cannot provide. His goal share of 31% is high but not unsustainable, and his goals per 90 rate places him among the more efficient strikers in the division’s lower half.
The structural concern is depth. Soriano’s decision to close the forward line after Aubameyang’s arrival meant that Dépor entered the season with three senior strikers, one of whom is 37 and another of whom is still developing. When Aubameyang was injured, the burden fell on Nsongo and Eddahchouri, neither of whom had proven themselves as La Liga scorers. The club’s inability to add a fourth option in January may prove costly if Aubameyang’s fitness remains unreliable.
The deeper issue is creativity. Dépor’s forwards are not missing a high volume of chances; they are dependent on the service provided by Yeremay, Soriano and Asp Jensen. When those players are fit and in form, Aubameyang receives the kind of opportunities he has built a career on converting. When they are not, the forward line becomes isolated and the goals dry up.
The Verdict from the Camp
Fernando Soriano, Deportivo sporting director, on closing the forward line:
“With Aubameyang we consider the forward line closed. If there are no departures because some club comes for one of our players, the attacking zone with Bil, Zaka and him would be covered.”
On Aubameyang’s arrival:
The club confirmed the signing of the 37-year-old Gabonese striker in August, describing him as a player with “extensive experience in elite football” at Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Marseille.
On Aubameyang’s debut goal:
“Spectacular control from the Panther of Gabon after a precise pass into the area from Amatucci that he does not forgive against Matías Dituro. First goal for Deportivo in LaLiga 2026/27.”
Where Next?
The specific question hanging over Dépor’s forward line is whether Aubameyang can stay fit for enough of the season to score the goals that survival demands. His four goals in seven matches suggest he can, but the injury that interrupted his campaign is a reminder that at 37, durability cannot be assumed.
That makes the development of Nsongo and Eddahchouri more important than the club might have anticipated. Neither was signed to be a primary scorer, but both may be required to contribute if Aubameyang is unavailable. Nsongo’s pace and energy offer something different, but his finishing is not yet reliable. Eddahchouri’s physical presence is valuable in certain match-ups, but his consistency is questionable.
The January window offers an opportunity to add a fourth forward, a player capable of sharing the burden with Aubameyang and providing cover if he breaks down. Whether Dépor have the resources or the salary space to do so is uncertain, but the risk of relying on a 37-year-old as the sole proven goalscorer is one that the club may need to address.
For now, Dépor’s forwards are performing above expectations. Aubameyang’s goals have powered a respectable start, Yeremay’s creativity has provided the service, and the team sits comfortably in mid-table. The challenge is to maintain that output across the winter months, when injuries and fatigue test the depth of every squad. Whether Dépor have enough up front to survive will be one of the defining questions of their season.
