Who is Kacper Kozlowski? The ‘new De Bruyne’ linked to Liverpool

Nicholas Hughes

5 Oct 2021 13:30 BST
5 min read

Kacper Kozlowski playing for Poland in a friendly against Iceland in 2021 — © ProShots

Kacper Kozlowski has emerged as a shining light in Polish football, finding his feet immediately in senior football at both club and international level.

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After making his first-team debut in the 2018/19 season, Kozlowski has developed exponentially and caught the eye of a number of Europe’s top clubs.

A breakout 2020/21 campaign placed Kozlowski firmly on the map in Europe and he has become a regular for Pogon Szczecin, a club he joined as a 13-year-old.

Early glimpses of his talent have shown he is ready for senior football at a high level, but have also highlighted his significant potential as he prepares for a long career at the top of the game.

What position does Kacper Kozlowski play in?

Kozlowski is a central midfielder, playing predominantly in the no.10 role but also having the ability to play as a no.8 or no.6.

How good is Kacper Kozlowski?

Comparisons are very quickly brought out in the modern game, but any time a player is compared to someone of Kevin De Bruyne’s calibre, there is clearly significant talent present.

Dubbed the 'Polish De Bruyne', and even the 'Polish Paul Pogba' by some, Kozlowski has earned the links to some of the world’s best midfielders with his performances on the pitch.

Kozlowski has an incredible mix of height, physicality, power and technical ability on the ball, with an eye for goal and a direct pass to create chances for his teammates.

His work ethic with and without the ball is also impressive, with his strength in the tackle nearly as good as some of his work on the ball.

It is his final pass that makes him such an eye-catching prospect, with a wide array of techniques up his sleeve – inside or outside of the foot, crosses or defence-splitting balls in behind.

But perhaps the biggest indication of his talent is the fact that he has already represented Poland five times at senior level.

Kacper Kozlowski dribbles through midfield for Poland in their Euro 2020 match against Spain in 2021 — © ProShots

His appearance against Spain at Euro 2020 made him the youngest player to ever play in a European Championship, breaking a record that Jude Bellingham had only just set earlier in the tournament.

What clubs are interested in Kacper Kozlowski?

Premier League giants Liverpool have emerged as a front-runner in the race to sign Kozlowski, with Jurgen Klopp keen to bring him to Anfield.

The Reds have another talented Polish youngster in Mateusz Musialowski already in their ranks, one of a number of academy talents the club are hoping to see reach first-team level as the strength of their youth program continues to increase.

The Mirror have reported that Liverpool will face stiff competition to secure the wonderkid’s signature, though, with Milan said to be interested as well as RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg.

Asked about the interest from Liverpool and other big clubs in October 2021, Kozlowski said: "I try to cut myself off from this type of information. Let my agent handle it.

“I don't know what I will do tomorrow, much less whether I will finish the season in Pogon or leave in January. I don't think about it, I do my own thing.

“And big names. they do not impress me. My dream is to play in this class of club in the future, but I think that the best thing to do is to apply the principle of small steps to reach the goal."

When does Kacper Kozlowski’s contract expire?

Kozlowski is still under his first professional contract, having signed a long-term senior deal at Pogon in 2019, which is set to expire on June 30, 2023.