Akor Adams has hit the ground running in Ligue 1 Uber Eats since his €4.5m move from Lillestrom in the summer. 

On Mbappé's heels

In just seven games, the former Nigeria U20 striker has five goals to his name, and he has already asserted himself as a mainstay in Michel Der Zakarian's side. 

In fact, only Kylian Mbappé has more goals than Adams in the French top-flight this season. The 23-year-old forward is clearly getting himself into the right places, and often, as evidenced by his XG (expoected goals) for the season (4.1), just a little shy of Mbappé's 4.4 XG. However, the France captain is comfortably on top of the scoring chart with seven goals.

Lofty objectives

Adams will therefore have some work to do if he is to achieve this season's personal objectives. Speaking to Midi Libre ahead of his debut campaign in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, the Nigerian didn't conceal his lofty ambitions. "I want Montpellier to finish in the top three and I want to be top scorer, but the club comes first," said Adams. 

He added, "I am going to work hard and do my best to progress every week so that I can play in the Champions League, but also play for the national team and take part in the World Cup. For now, I have to give my all for Montpellier."

From Nigeria to Norway

Adams has always been a dreamer, and despite his young age, he is already accomplishing some of them. "I talk about my dreams and then people laugh. It sounds ridiculous, but that's how I am. I think anything is possible. I told my mum that I wanted to play in Europe. She actually believed me," said Adams in the lead-up to Lillestrom's Norwegian cup final loss to Brann.

He left Nigerian side Jamba F.A. to join Norwegian second-division side Sogndal in 2018, initially on a loan deal, before making the move permanent. 

It didn't take long for him to establish himself as one of the most prolific forwards in the division, and after 23 goals in just 38 games in the Eliteserien, he got his move to the top flight. His partnership with Thomas Lehne Olsen up front for Lillestrom was highly successful, and his physicality a source of bother for the defenders he faced. With 17 goals and three assists in his final season in Norway, he showed he was a goal-scorer. Many of his goals in Norway also came late in matches, showing an endurance and a perseverance that has perfectly translated into French football. Of Adams' five Ligue 1 Uber Eats goals, two have come in the 89th minute. 

Surprising Michel Der Zakarian, but not Laurent Nicollin

Adams' successful start to life at Montpellier has come as a surprise to head coach Der Zakarian. "Our surprise has been seeing him score immediately, but that's football. Andy Delort went a long time without scoring a goal, Elye Wahi as well," he said. It is fair to say that Adams' form has allowed Montpellier to quickly forget the latter, who joined Lens this summer. 

To Der Zakarian, Adams has already become so essential that he talks about the squad adapting to the Nigerian and his style of play. "We knew it would take some time to adapt to Adams [...] He needs to adapt, but others do too, they should want to play with him. We looked back on the match against Rennes and he made many good runs, but he wasn't fed. Players in possession of the ball should see things and should want to give him the ball, especially in behind," said the Montpellier head coach.