The lowdown on Olivier Boscagli

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The Frenchman arrives after winning back-to-back league titles with PSV.

Richie Mills

2025-07-06T06:00+01:00

Olivier Boscagli joined Albion on a five-year deal from PSV. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

New Albion signing Olivier Boscagli is a "brilliant" technical player who has a habit of finding solutions when under the cosh.

That is the view of Rik Elfrink, of Eindhovens Dagblad and AD Sportwereld, who has closely followed the 27-year-old's progress after six years at PSV Eindhoven.

And in that time, the former Nice man has gone from being a fringe player at the Dutch giants to a vital component of their success.

Olivier Boscagli spent six years with PSV. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

"He found it difficult to settle in initially, although it didn't help that he was played at left-back - which is not really his position," said Elfrink.

"There were doubts over whether he would make it at PSV, particularly as he was in and out of the team early on. But his fortunes changed when Roger Schmidt became manager for the 2020/21 season.

"He used him as a left-sided central defender, and since then, he has been very important to the club. He has good football skills, his passing is incredible, and when playing with the ball, he is brilliant. Current PSV boss Peter Bosz once said he is the most technically brilliant player he has ever worked with; so that promises a lot.

Fabian Hurzeler chats with his new signing. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

"Boscagli was out for a year with an injury but he came back stronger than ever. In fact, his best season (2023/24) was when he returned from injury. In the last two years, I would say he is one of PSV's five most important players. He was one of the leading figures in the group."

Indeed, the Frenchman, who joined Albion from PSV on a five-year deal, stacks up well compared to other centre-backs in Europe's big five leagues (Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, and Serie A).

Boscagli made 204 appearances for PSV, scoring 11 goals and adding 13 assists in a spell where he won back-to-back league titles, the KNVB Cup, and two Johan Cruyff Shields.

553 - In each of the last two @eredivisie seasons, Olivier Boscagli has led the league in line-breaking passes, (567 in 2023-24 and 553 in 2024-25). Architect. pic.twitter.com/D3vG03j7Th
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 28, 2025

Now, Elfrink thinks it will be a tall order for PSV to find a centre-back as good as Albion's new recruit.

"The fans really appreciated everything he did for them. He got a tattoo of Philips Stadion on his arm, so it's a very important chapter in his life. It was a good match after all. They will remember him fondly," he said. "He could have left PSV last summer but they kept him. They wanted to fight for the title and qualify for the Champions League, and he helped them deliver that. He's also a very kind and good person, a very dedicated player who cares deeply about the team. He was always greeting you and was very friendly.

"It will be really difficult for PSV to find another player like him. He fit in very well at PSV in the end, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him back at the club one day."