Younes Ebnoutalib: Who is the Eintracht Frankfurt forward looking to shine with Germany?
Having launched himself into the limelight in Bundesliga 2 with Elversberg, Younes Ebnoutalib secured a move to Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2026 and has hit the ground running in 2026/27, after an injury-hit first half-season, to make his Germany debut under Jürgen Klopp.
Stats correct as of 26 September 2026
Age: 23 (Born 13 September 2003)
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: Striker
Country: Germany (one cap)
Key stats
Growing up, Ebnoutalib was an avid street footballer, which is evident by his close control in the penalty box. Spending time in the academies at Rot-Weiss Frankfurt and Wehen Wiesbaden, he packed his bags for Italy where he made his professional debut for Perugia in September 2023, aged 19, gaining invaluable experience in a new culture.
Returning to his homeland after a six month spell, Ebnoutalib joined Gießen before switching to Elversberg in January 2025. But with Fisnik Asllani in the team, minutes escaped him. His outlook changed when his former teammate returned to Hoffenheim in the summer.
After three substitute appearances, Vincent Wagner awarded the Frankfurt native his first start on Matchday 4, and the forward took his chance with aplomb.
Weighing in with 12 goals in 17 games to see out 2025, Ebnoutalib scored the crucial opening goal on five occasions. His rise to prominence naturally attracted interest from Bundesliga clubs, with Frankfurt acting quickest to sign the exciting attacking talent to a long-term contract until 30 June 2031.
He duly made a dream debut for his hometown club, netting in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Borussia Dortmund.
While a knee ligament injury curtailed his chance of adding any further Bundesliga goals in his first half of a season, there would be no keeping his talent down - as he duly demonstrated with a sensational hat-trick in a 3-3 draw at Union Berlin on the opening day of 2026/27.
He had made that four goals from his opening four appearances of the season by the time Jürgen Klopp handed him his Germany debut as a substitute in a 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw in the Netherlands in September 2026.
Plays a bit like: Miroslav Klose
Ebnoutalib’s style of play closely resembles that of footballing legend Klose. Germany's outright best goalscorer with 71 strikes in 137 international appearances, the former Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich forward didn’t score his first top flight goal until the age of 22, before going on to net 127 Bundesliga goals.
A physical presence at 1.87m, each of Ebnoutalib’s 2025/26 Bundesliga 2 goals came inside the penalty box. The Frankfurt forward possesses superb close control, ability to find space and a natural eye for goal with his poacher-like instinct, similar to that of Klose.
Watch: Miroslav Klose - Bundesliga legend
Did you know?
Ebnoutalib started learning taekwondo at the age of three after his dad, Faissal, won silver at the 2000 Summer Olympics for Germany, but he switched his focus fully towards football at 13.
What they're saying
“It all happened so fast. It feels like a dream. I still can’t quite grasp it, I’m incredibly happy. Playing for your own city is pretty amazing. I’m just so happy.” - Ebnoutalib on signing for Frankfurt
"That was important for him. We can see the kind of mentality he has, and that he also possesses the instinct to score." - Frankfurt’s board member for sport Markus Krösche after Ebnoutalib's hat-trick against Union Berlin in August 2026
“I saw his first game of the season for Eintracht and said to myself, ‘What a player! Where did they find him?’ There was no discussion among the coaching staff. We all immediately agreed: ‘Yes, we have to include him.’ - Germany coach Jürgen Klopp after calling Ebnoutalib up in September 2026
