The headline-grabbing marathon of negotiations between Youssoufa Moukoko and Borussia Dortmund is over. After rounds of talks that dragged on for months, the Bundesliga soccer club and the national player agreed to continue working together. As the Revierclub announced on Saturday afternoon, the contract with the 18-year-old striker, which expires this summer, has been extended until 2026.
“Youssoufa is an exceptional player who we trained ourselves and in whom we still see huge potential for development,” said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl. The desire for more planning security and the annoyance at the negotiation tactics of the Moukoko side had recently prompted BVB to issue an ultimatum. Accordingly, the teenager should decide against FC Augsburg (3.30 p.m. / DAZN) before the Bundesliga restarts on Sunday. This measure had an effect. “It was important to us to be able to conclude the negotiations this week so that we all – and especially Youssoufa – can start the football year 2023 in peace and fully focused on the sporting challenges,” Kehl justified the ultimatum.
The agreement was preceded by noise. Media reported that the young professional should have turned down a lavish offer from BVB. Moukoko described this as defamatory and a “lie about me that I will never accept”. But the growing tensions fueled speculation about a farewell to the talent, who set various goalscoring records after moving from St. Pauli to the Dortmund youth academy in 2016 and on November 21, 2020 one day after his 16th birthday in a 5-2 away win his team against Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga. In addition to the English clubs FC Chelsea and Newcastle United, FC Barcelona is said to have been interested. Now he stays with BVB.
“Of course I was honored by the interest of other clubs, but in the end it’s a decision of the heart. The fans have always supported me and I want to give something back to them and the club,” Moukoko said in the club’s statement. In addition to the significantly improved salary, the good relationship with BVB trainer Edin Terzic, who had accompanied him from a young age, may have been the deciding factor in staying.
“I can feel the trust of the coaching staff and I have an environment here in which I can develop perfectly,” emphasizes the 18-year-old. However, Moukoko’s fight for a regular place will not be any easier after the return of Sébastien Haller, who suffered from cancer last summer. In addition, Anthony Modeste is also hoping for more time in BVB’s attack center after his groin operation. But with six goals and four assists, Moukoko, who was born in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, is the best BVB scorer so far this season.