Who is Assan Ouedraogo? The U17 World Cup winner signed by RB Leipzig

Tom Weber

13 Jun 2024 12:51 BST
5 min read

Assan Ouedraogo came out of nowhere to take German football by storm in 2023/24.

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A local boy, the 17-year-old was thrust into the side of relegated Bundesliga giants Schalke on the first day of the 2023/24 season and he immediately found the back of the net.

Though an unfortunate injury robbed him of a large chunk of the season, the youngster managed to show enough to attract big-name interest and he can even call himself a World Cup winner.

But who is Assan Ouedraogo and how good is he really?

What position does Ouedraogo play in?

Ouedraogo is a skilful central midfielder who can also be used further forward and out wide. He mostly plays in the middle of the park, however.

How good is Ouedraogo?

A product of the celebrated youth academy - the Knappenschmiede - of Schalke 04, Assan Ouedraogo was a surprise starter on the opening day of the 2. Bundesliga as the Royal Blues faced Hamburger SV in a battle of fallen German giants. Then-coach Thomas Reis threw him into the team and the 17-year-old immediately repaid the faith, scoring after 22 minutes.

However, finding the back of the net is not what the youngster's game is really about. A skilful, all-action midfielder with an insatiable hunger to go forward, Ouedraogo established himself as a crucial part of Schalke's senior squad, offering a rare glimmer of hope as this proud club teetered on the brink of falling into third-tier football.

Playing with a youthful exuberance, the 17-year-old loves to take people on and get stuck in, and he is rightfully considered one of Germany's biggest talents. Nevertheless, he is still very much a diamond in the rough and would likely benefit from staying in a lower division for a bit longer. Schalke's financial and sporting struggles, however, mean that they likely won't be able to keep hold of the local youngster.

Though he came out of nowhere ahead of the 2023/24 season, Ouedraogo had long since been a promising talent. In 2021/22, he scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 15 games for Schalke's U17s as they were crowned German champions, while he netted seven times in 13 matches for the U19s during the 2022/23 campaign.

He also helped Germany win the U17 European Championships in early 2023 before then winning the U17 World Cup later that same year. In September of 2023, the midfielder received a Fritz Walter medal given to the biggest up-and-coming talents in Germany.

The official Bundesliga website has stated that he plays like a mix between Xabi Alonso and Michael Essien, with his ability to drive forward reminiscent of the latter. Schalke legend Olaf Thon has even said: "He [Ouedraogo] has everything, game intelligence, speed, teamwork, goal threat and he can play the final pass."

Bundesliga icon Jens Nowotny, who was Germany's assistant coach during the U17 World Cup triumph, exclusively told FootballTransfers in April 2024: "Assan has already shown - also during the U17 World Cup - that he can be an important player for Schalke's first team."

"Unfortunately, he was injured for a while and then it's only natural that it takes some time to get back to the same level. But he did recently prove against Hannover [scored a goal in a 1-1 draw] that he is a brilliant player and that he can compete with seniors. But you can't say that you have already reached your goal by simply becoming a professional."

"Now, it's time to consistently perform. That's the intriguing thing. It's not just about playing well in the last few games of the season but you have to consistently play at this level, also in pre-season, or better yet, you need to continue to learn, improve and maybe take your game to an even higher level."

What clubs were interested in Ouedraogo?

A whole host of clubs had been linked with the youngster. In 2023, reports of interest from Brighton, Liverpool and Chelsea emerged. More recently, Newcastle were added to the list of English suitors.

In Italy, Ouedraogo was being courted by AS Roma, Atalanta and AC Milan. The latter two, in particular, are said to be pushing heavily for his signature.

Finally, Ouedraogo also has no shortage of suitors in Germany. RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich were locked in a battle to sign him - but it was Die Roten Bullen who prevailed.

Assan Ouédraogo becomes a Red Bull! ✍️

The midfielder will move to RB Leipzig for the 2024/25 season. The 18-year-old has signed a five-year contract until 2029.
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) June 13, 2024