Eli Junior Kroupi
Eli Junior Kroupi is a name quickly rising through the ranks of professional football, heralded as one of France's most promising young talents. Born into a footballing family, Kroupi has already shattered long-standing club records and caught the eye of top European clubs, all before his 20th birthday. His journey from a local academy to the Premier League is a testament to extraordinary talent and relentless ambition. Kroupi rapidly ascended from youth teams to become Lorient's youngest-ever player and goalscorer in Ligue 1. He achieved significant individual accolades in Ligue 2, including top goalscorer and Player of the Year, before his big move. His transfer to Premier League side Bournemouth signifies his emergence as a highly sought-after talent on the international stage.
AI Summary
Eli Junior Kroupi is a name quickly rising through the ranks of professional football, heralded as one of France's most promising young talents. Born into a footballing family, Kroupi has already shattered long-standing club records and caught the eye of top European clubs, all before his 20th birthday. His journey from a local academy to the Premier League is a testament to extraordinary talent and relentless ambition.
- Kroupi rapidly ascended from youth teams to become Lorient's youngest-ever player and goalscorer in Ligue 1.
- He achieved significant individual accolades in Ligue 2, including top goalscorer and Player of the Year, before his big move.
- His transfer to Premier League side Bournemouth signifies his emergence as a highly sought-after talent on the international stage.
A Rising Star: Eli Junior Kroupi
Born on June 23, 2006, Eli Junior Éric Anatole Rainha Kroupi is a French professional footballer who has quickly captured the attention of the footballing world. He plays as a dynamic forward, a position where his speed, skill, and keen eye for goal truly shine.
A Family Affair
Eli Junior's connection to football runs deep through his family. He was born in Lorient, France, and is the son of Éli Kroupi, a former international footballer for Ivory Coast. His mother, adding another layer to his heritage, is of Portuguese descent.
Forging Skills at Lorient
Kroupi honed his craft within the esteemed Lorient Academy, a proving ground for many young talents. His dedication and skill saw him rapidly progress through the youth ranks, signalling a bright future from an early age.
By the end of the 2021–22 season, Kroupi was already playing for the Lorient reserve team in the Championnat National 2. His consistent goalscoring prowess earned him his first professional contract with the club in the summer of 2022, a remarkable achievement for such a young player.
Breaking Records in Ligue 1
His senior professional debut arrived on June 3, 2023, in a Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg. At just 16 years and 345 days old, Kroupi became the youngest player in Lorient's history to play in a professional match, surpassing a record previously held by Mattéo Guendouzi.
The records continued to tumble. On September 23, 2023, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal against Nantes, making him the youngest scorer in Lorient's history—eclipsing even the legendary André Ayew. Just a month later, he netted a brace against Lyon, becoming the youngest player since 1974 to achieve this feat in Ligue 1.
Representing France
Kroupi's dazzling club form naturally extended to the international stage, where he became a prolific goalscorer for France's youth teams. He earned his first call-up to the under-16 squad in October 2021 and quickly made his mark.
His incredible run with the U17 team saw him score 9 goals in his first 9 appearances. He was selected for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, but unfortunately had to withdraw due to injury—a setback that prevented him from joining his teammates who reached the final.
The Premier League Beckons
Kroupi's exceptional talent did not go unnoticed by Europe's top leagues. On February 3, 2025, Premier League club Bournemouth officially announced an agreement to sign him for an undisclosed fee, a major step in his burgeoning career. He remained at Lorient for the remainder of the 2024–25 season, continuing to refine his skills.
His Premier League debut arrived on August 15, 2025, in a challenging match against Liverpool. Just over a month later, on September 27, 2025, Kroupi scored his first goal for Bournemouth in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Leeds United, quickly proving his worth on England's biggest stage.
A Cabinet of Accolades
Despite his youth, Eli Junior Kroupi has already accumulated an impressive list of honours and individual awards, showcasing his impact and potential at every level he has played.
Ligue 2: 2024–25 UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2024 Ligue 2 top goalscorer: 2024–25 UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Year: 2024–25 UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year: 2024–25
Career Statistics Overview
Club Season League National cup League cup Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Lorient II 2021–22 Championnat National 2 3 2 — — 3 2 Lorient II 2022–23 Championnat National 2 15 7 — — 15 7 Total Lorient II 18 9 — — 18 9 Lorient 2022–23 Ligue 1 1 0 0 0 — 1 0 Lorient 2023–24 Ligue 1 30 5 1 0 — 31 5 Lorient 2024–25 Ligue 2 30 22 2 1 — 32 23 Total Lorient 61 27 3 1 — 64 28 Bournemouth 2025–26 Premier League 26 9 1 0 1 0 28 9 Career total 105 45 4 1 1 0 110 46
Article
Eli Junior Kroupi
Eli Junior Éric Anatole Rainha Kroupi (born 23 June 2006) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Bournemouth.
Early life
Eli Junior Kroupi
Born in Lorient, Morbihan, Kroupi is the son of former Ivory Coast footballer Éli Kroupi. His mother is of Portuguese descent.
Club career
Lorient
A product of the Lorient Academy, Kroupi started playing with the reserve team in the Championnat National 2 in the end of the 2021–22 season. He signed his first professional contract with the club on the summer 2022. While proving to be a regular goalscorer with the reserve, he made his first appearance with the professional squad in April 2023, for the Ligue 1 game against Marseille.
Kroupi made his professional debut for Lorient on the 3 June 2023 during a home Ligue 1 against Strasbourg, to be the youngest player in his club's history breaking previous record of Mattéo Guendouzi, when he replaced Romain Faivre at the 83rd minute and his team won the match 2–1. Despite this being the last round of the 2022–23 French top flight, Kroupi became at the age of 16 years and 345 days, the third youngest player to enter the field that season, only behind Warren Zaïre-Emery and Leny Yoro.
On 23 September 2023, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal for Lorient in a 5–3 away defeat against Nantes, to be the youngest scorer in club's history, breaking previous record of André Ayew. A month later, on 8 October, after scoring twice in a 3–3 away draw against Lyon, he became the youngest player to score a brace in Ligue 1 since Bernard Zénier in 1974, at 17 years old and 107 days. On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.
Bournemouth
Kroupi in 2025
On 3 February 2025, Premier League club Bournemouth agreed to sign Kroupi for an undisclosed fee. He would remain at Lorient for the rest of the 2024–25 season. He made his debut for the club on 15 August 2025, in a 4–2 defeat to Liverpool. He scored his first goal for the club on 27 September 2025, in a 2–2 draw with Leeds United.
International career
Eli Junior Kroupi
Kroupi is a youth international for France, first receiving a call with the under-16 in October 2021. He soon became a prolific goalscorer with France youth teams, with the U16, and even more with the U17, scoring 9 goals in his first 9 appearances with the latter.
In May 2023, Kroupi was selected by Jean-Luc Vannuchi for the European Under-17 Championship, as France were the reigning champions. He was however forced to withdraw due to injury, while his team would eventually go on to reach the final of the competition.
Career statistics
Eli Junior Kroupi
<table><thead><tr><th>Club</th><th>Season</th><th>League</th><th>National cup</th><th>League cup</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Division</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td></tr><tr><td>Lorient II</td><td>2021–22</td><td>Championnat National 2</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>3</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>Championnat National 2</td><td>15</td><td>7</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>15</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>18</td><td>9</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>18</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Lorient</td><td>2022–23</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>1</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>30</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>31</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Ligue 2</td><td>30</td><td>22</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>32</td><td>23</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>61</td><td>27</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>64</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>Bournemouth</td><td>2025–26</td><td>Premier League</td><td>26</td><td>9</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>28</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Career total</td><td>105</td><td>45</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>110</td><td>46</td></tr></tbody></table>
Honours
Eli Junior Kroupi
• Ligue 2: 2024–25
• UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: (/wiki/2024UEFAEuropeanUnder-19Championship)
• Ligue 2 top goalscorer: 2024–25 • UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Year: 2024–25 • UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year: 2024–25