PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Forzan Assan Ouédraogo |
| Date of Birth | 09/05/2006 (Age: 20) |
| Place of Birth | Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany |
| Nationality | German (also holds Burkinabé citizenship) |
| Height | 1.91 m / 6 ft 3 in |
| Weight | 82 kg |
| Position | Central Midfielder |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | #20 (RB Leipzig), #25 (Germany) |
| Current Club | RB Leipzig |
| Previous Clubs | Union Mülheim (youth), Schalke 04 (youth & senior) |
| International Caps | 1 |
| International Goals | 1 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 |
| Contract Until | 2029 |
| Market Value | €28M |
The Frozen Moment
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America represented a childhood dream realised in the most dramatic fashion. For Assan Ouédraogo, the call-up to Germany’s 26-man squad was not part of the original plan—it came as a bolt from the blue while he was on holiday in Marbella, Spain.
Ouédraogo had initially been left out of Julian Nagelsmann’s squad when the 26-man list was announced on May 21, 2026. But on June 6, just days before Germany’s opening match, defender Lennart Karl suffered a muscle injury in training ahead of a friendly against the United States. Nagelsmann turned to the RB Leipzig midfielder as an emergency replacement.
“I got the call from the national coach on Friday evening while on holiday,” Ouédraogo recalled. “When Julian Nagelsmann told me I was now part of the squad, I needed a moment to take it in and realise what had happened before going and packing my things straight away.”
It was a moment of profound significance for a player who had already experienced the pinnacle of youth football—winning the U17 European Championship and U17 World Cup with Germany in 2023. But this was the senior World Cup, the ultimate stage, and he had earned his place through sheer determination after an injury-hit season.
Germany were drawn in Group E alongside Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ecuador, opening their campaign on June 14 in Houston. For Ouédraogo, whose father Alassane had earned 62 caps for Burkina Faso during a two-decade professional career, the tournament represented both the culmination of his own journey and a continuation of a family footballing tradition.
Origins
Born on May 9, 2006, in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, Forzan Assan Ouédraogo was raised in a footballing family. His father, Alassane Ouédraogo, was a former professional midfielder who made his Bundesliga debut for 1. FC Köln in 2001 and earned 62 caps for Burkina Faso during a career spanning two decades. His career also included stints at Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, TuS Koblenz and Rot-Weiss Essen. Assan’s brother, Riyad, is also a promising footballer in the Schalke U15s.
Ouédraogo began his youth career with TuS Union 09 Mülheim, spending three years at the club before moving to Schalke 04’s academy in 2014. His progression through the Schalke ranks was swift. In the 2021/22 season, he registered seven goals and eight assists in 15 outings for Schalke’s U17s as they were crowned German champions. He continued that form at U19 level, and by the start of the 2023/24 season, he had been promoted to the first team at the age of just 17.
His father has been a guiding influence throughout his career. “My father often comes to the stadium to watch me play. As a former professional footballer, he’s got a lot of good advice to offer,” Ouédraogo said. “He’s a very important person for me, especially during tough times, like when my injury happened. He used to play professionally and also had to deal with setbacks. He knows how to deal with difficult situations.”
The European Forge
Schalke 04 (2023-2024)
Ouédraogo’s senior breakthrough came at Schalke 04 in spectacular fashion. He marked his professional debut in the 2. Bundesliga with a goal against Hamburger SV on July 28, 2023. In doing so, he broke Julian Draxler’s record as Schalke’s youngest-ever goalscorer and became the youngest player in the club’s history at 17 years and 80 days, surpassing Volker Abramczik’s record.
He made 17 league appearances for Schalke in the 2023/24 season, scoring three goals and providing one assist. His performances attracted interest from across Europe, including from Bayern Munich, but he ultimately chose RB Leipzig for his development.
RB Leipzig (2024-Present)
On June 13, 2024, Ouédraogo moved to RB Leipzig for a reported fee of €10 million, signing a contract until 2029. He rejected interest from Bayern Munich, stating that he made the decision for his development, claiming that young players make the biggest strides at RB Leipzig.
His first season at Leipzig was disrupted by injuries, limiting him to just five substitute appearances across all competitions. Persistent knee and thigh problems kept him out of action for significant periods. However, Leipzig never lost faith in their exciting signing.
The 2025/26 season saw Ouédraogo flourish under head coach Ole Werner. After appearing off the bench in Leipzig’s first four Bundesliga games, he was awarded his first start on Matchday 4 against Cologne and scored in the 3-1 triumph. He was named in the starting XI for every subsequent Bundesliga match until injury struck again in November.
In the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, Ouédraogo made 19 appearances (13 starts), scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists. His best run of form came in autumn, as he registered six goal involvements in just eight matches, including a Man of the Match-winning display in Leipzig’s 6-0 rout of Augsburg. He also featured in the DFB-Pokal and made Champions League appearances.
International Career
Ouédraogo’s international journey has been marked by remarkable success at youth level and a dream senior debut. He won the U17 European Championship with Germany in June 2023, scoring the winning penalty in the final against France. He then helped Germany win the U17 World Cup in December 2023, again beating France on penalties in the final. He also won a bronze Fritz Walter Medal in 2023, an award highlighting the top talents in German football.
His senior international debut came on November 17, 2025, in a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia. Entering the match as a substitute in the 77th minute, he found the net just 102 seconds later from Leroy Sané’s pass, becoming the youngest debutant to score for Germany since Klaus Stürmer in October 1954. He became the fourth-youngest goalscorer in Germany’s Bundesliga era.
Ouédraogo was initially overlooked for the 2026 World Cup squad when Julian Nagelsmann announced his 26-man selection on May 21, 2026. However, on June 6, he was called up as an emergency replacement for the injured Lennart Karl. He was handed the number 25 shirt and joined the squad for the tournament in North America. As of June 2026, he has one senior cap and one international goal.
The Anatomy of His Game
Ouédraogo is a right-footed central midfielder defined by his physical presence, technical ability, and box-to-box dynamism. At 1.91 metres and 82 kg, he possesses an imposing physical profile that belies his age.
In Possession
Ouédraogo’s technical quality is remarkable. He is described as possessing “remarkable technical ability, a superb eye for a pass and a keen nose for goal.” He likes to collect the ball in deeper areas of the pitch before using his pace and power to feed teammates or have a shot himself. His style has been likened to a box-to-box midfielder capable of using both feet, lauded for his speed, dribbling, creativity and goal-scoring ability. Due to his height, physicality, technique in tight spaces, and ability to carry the ball forward, he has been compared to players such as Paul Pogba, Ryan Gravenberch and Khépren Thuram.
His pass completion rate of 82.2% in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season reflects his reliability in possession. His goal involvement per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga is 0.36 (4 goals in 19 appearances). In the 2025/26 season, he also provided 4 assists across all competitions.
Out of Possession
Ouédraogo’s defensive contributions are a key part of his game. His physicality and athleticism allow him to cover significant ground, and his pressing makes him a combative presence in midfield. His defensive statistics in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season include a duel success rate of 54%, 8 interceptions, and 25 recoveries.
Psychological Edge
Ouédraogo’s career is defined by resilience and maturity beyond his years. His response to injury setbacks—persistent knee issues that kept him out from the end of November until April—demonstrates his mental fortitude. Nagelsmann praised his character, saying: “He’s still very young, but I’m very happy with his development and hope he retains his humility. He needs to keep at it and continue in the same way.”
His ability to step up in crucial moments—scoring the winning penalty in the U17 Euro final, scoring on his senior debut, and answering a last-minute World Cup call-up—speaks to a player who thrives under pressure.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Competition | Apps (Starts/Subs) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga | 19 (13/6) | 1,010 | 4 | 3 | — |
| DFB-Pokal | 1 (0/1) | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
| UEFA Champions League | 2 (0/2) | 25 | 0 | 0 | — |
| TOTAL | 22 | 1,041 | 4 | 4 | — |
TABLE B: Career Overview
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | Schalke 04 | 2. Bundesliga | 17 | 3 |
| 2023/24 | Schalke 04 II | Regionalliga West | 1 | 0 |
| 2024/25 | RB Leipzig | Bundesliga | 3 | 0 |
| 2025/26 | RB Leipzig | Bundesliga | 16 | 4 |
| TOTAL | — | — | 37 | 7 |
TABLE C: International Record
| Tournament/Competition | Apps | Goals | Major Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | — | — | — |
| World Cup Qualifiers | 1 | 1 | — |
| Germany Senior Career | 1 | 1 | — |
| Germany U17 | 17 | 1 | U17 Euro Winner, U17 World Cup Winner |
TABLE D: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | U17 German Champion | Won with Schalke U17 |
| 2023 | U17 European Champion | Scored winning penalty in final |
| 2023 | U17 World Cup Winner | Won with Germany |
| 2023 | Fritz Walter Bronze Medal | Awarded for U17 talents |
| 2023 | Schalke Debut | Youngest player and goalscorer in club history |
| 2024 | RB Leipzig Move | €10 million transfer |
| 2025 | Senior Debut | Scored 102 seconds after coming on |
| 2026 | World Cup Call-Up | Late replacement for Lennart Karl |
Trophy Haul
Ouédraogo’s youth career includes significant silverware:
Germany U17:
- UEFA European U17 Championship: 2023
- FIFA U17 World Cup: 2023
Schalke U17:
- U17 Bundesliga Championship: 2021/22
Individual:
- Fritz Walter Medal Bronze: 2023
The Present Tense
Assan Ouédraogo is 20 years old and at the very beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary career. He is a key midfielder for RB Leipzig, a World Cup squad member, and one of Germany’s most exciting young talents.
The RB Leipzig Story
Ouédraogo joined RB Leipzig in July 2024 for €10 million and has since developed into a key figure in the squad. In the 2025/26 season, he made 19 Bundesliga appearances, contributing 4 goals and 3 assists. His performances in autumn, including a Man of the Match display against Augsburg, demonstrated his quality. He is under contract with RB Leipzig until 2029.
The World Cup Campaign
Ouédraogo was called up as an emergency replacement for Lennart Karl just days before Germany’s World Cup opener. He was on holiday in Marbella when Julian Nagelsmann contacted him, and he described the call as a “childhood dream come true.” He was handed the number 25 shirt and joined the squad for the tournament in North America. Germany were drawn in Group E alongside Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ecuador.
International Record
Ouédraogo has one senior cap for Germany and has scored one international goal—a debut strike against Slovakia on November 17, 2025, just 102 seconds after coming on.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Ouédraogo is defined by his footballing heritage and his humility despite his precocious talent. His father, Alassane, was a Bundesliga professional and Burkina Faso international, and has been a guiding influence throughout his career. Assan has described his father as a “very important person for me, especially during tough times.”
His brother, Riyad, is also a promising footballer in the Schalke U15s. The family’s footballing tradition runs deep, and Assan has spoken about the influence of his father’s career on his own development.
Ouédraogo has been praised for his humility by his coaches. Nagelsmann said: “He’s still very young, but I’m very happy with his development and hope he retains his humility.” Werner described him as “very likeable because he never assumes he will automatically score, and he takes responsibility on the pitch.”
The Verdict from the Camp
Julian Nagelsmann, Germany head coach:
“He’s still very young, but I’m very happy with his development and hope he retains his humility. He needs to keep at it and continue in the same way.”
Ole Werner, RB Leipzig head coach:
“Assan is an exceptional talent, very likeable because he never assumes he will automatically score, and he takes responsibility on the pitch. He’s a great guy who works incredibly hard, believes in himself and is fit.”
Bundesliga Official:
“Assan Ouédraogo has not only been a breakout star for RB Leipzig but has also hit the ground running for Germany.”
Where Next?
Assan Ouédraogo is 20 years old and under contract with RB Leipzig until 2029. His immediate future lies in the Bundesliga, where he has established himself as one of the league’s most exciting young midfielders.
Club Outlook
Ouédraogo’s long-term contract with Leipzig reflects the club’s belief in his importance. His performances in the 2025/26 season—19 appearances, 4 goals, 3 assists—demonstrate his value to the side. He will look to build on his form in the 2026/27 season and continue his development under Ole Werner.
International Outlook
At 20, Ouédraogo is one of the youngest players in the Germany squad. His World Cup experience, even if limited, will be invaluable for future tournaments. The Euro 2028 qualification campaign will be a significant opportunity for him to add to his one cap and one international goal. Nagelsmann has shown faith in him, and his performances for both club and country suggest he will be a key figure for the national team in the coming years.
The Journey Continues
From Mülheim to the World Cup, from Schalke’s academy to RB Leipzig, Assan Ouédraogo’s journey is one of exceptional talent, resilience, and rapid ascent. The boy who broke Schalke’s record at 17 is now a World Cup squad member and one of Germany’s most exciting young midfielders. His story is only just beginning, and the next chapter promises to be as compelling as the journey that brought him here.
