Former Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Youssoufa Moukoko breaks his silence on his tumultuous career path and the surprise summer move to Copenhagen. The 20-year-old striker reveals that his struggles under various managers at Dortmund led to a self-reflection during a loan spell at French side Nice, admitting that he constantly blamed others for his problems. Now in Denmark, the young striker vows to fight through his rough start.
Moukoko's summer exit from Dortmund
Moukoko, once hailed as German football's most electrifying young prospect, made a surprising decision this summer that turned heads across Europe. At 16 years old, Moukoko became the youngest player to debut in the Bundesliga and the youngest ever goal scorer at the same age. Despite his incredible start and growing hype around the attacker, his development had slowed due to inconsistent minutes.
Rejecting multiple offers from German clubs, the 20-year-old chose a complete change of scenery, signing a permanent deal with Danish Superliga club Copenhagen in a transfer valued at approximately €4 million. This move, according to Moukoko, was driven by the urgent need to escape an environment where he felt his progress was stifled. The German international will now face his former teammates as Copenhagen take on Dortmumd in the Champions League on October 21.
AdvertisementAFPThe profound lesson from the Ligue 1 loan
The true psychological turning point for Moukoko came during his loan spell with Nice in France's Ligue 1 during the 2024-2025 season. Although the loan didn't yield continuous playtime, only making 11 Ligue 1 appearances and registering two goals, it provided a vital emotional education. Moukoko revealed the core of his past frustration stemmed from a culture of externalising blame at his German home club.
Moukoko confessed to : "Many won't understand when I say this, but Nice was the best thing that could have happened to me. In Dortmund, it was always the coach's fault if I didn't play. In Nice, I learned to look for the blame in myself first before looking at others. I learned to be patient, to control my emotions, and not to point the finger at other people."This mindset was detrimental, especially for a player who, in his youth academy days, achieved the staggering feat of 141 goals in just 88 games for Dortmund’s U17 and U19 sides.
Off to rough start in Copenhagen
Moukoko's early tenure at Copenhagen has reinforced the need for patience. While the volume of matches has increased, the goals have not flowed freely. His current tally stands at four goals in 20 matches across all tournaments, including the Champions League qualifiers. Specifically in the Danish Superliga, the striker has netted only two goals and provided one assist in 12 appearances. This output is a noticeable drop from his most productive Dortmund 2022-2023 season, where he registered an impressive seven goals and three assists in 26 Bundesliga matches.
Moukoko attributes the current low numbers to a lack of match fitness accumulated over years of being a rotational player. "Everyone probably expected me to go to Denmark and destroy the league, but I hardly ever played 90 minutes for two years. Then suddenly playing every three days is a real challenge," said Moukoko.
He was criticised for his display in the Champions League against Qarabag and was substituted at half-time as his side lost 2-0 at home. "I am my own biggest critic. I know this isn't my level. It just wasn't my day. I would have substituted myself," he admitted.
AFPA new chapter for Moukoko
The five-year deal with Copenhagen is a clear commitment from both the club and Moukoko to building a stable, long-term career. Having shed the emotional baggage of perpetually competing for minutes under various Dortmund coaches, he is now focused on maximising the consistent playing time he fought for. His 19 appearances in the first few months in Denmark already indicate a shift towards the high volume of minutes necessary to regain peak form and Moukoko is prepared to make the most of his chances and looks set on his path to redemption.