Losing Antoine Semenyo was a tough blow for Bournemouth, but Eli Junior Kroupi is helping ease the pain. On Saturday, the teenager scored a stunning goal against Wolves, giving the Cherries the lead.
Bournemouth had yet to have a shot on target when
Kroupi controlled Amine Adli’s flick near the Wolves penalty area, then smashed a looping strike past goalkeeper Jose Sa. Alex Scott later added a second in stoppage time.
Kroupi’s goal was his eighth in just 10 league starts this season, briefly matching Barcelona star Lamine Yamal’s tally of nine. The last French player to score so much in England before turning 20 was Arsenal’s Nicolas Anelka, who netted 13 times in 1998-99.
At just 19, Kroupi needs only two more goals to reach double digits—a milestone achieved by only 10 teenagers in Premier League history. While he plays differently to Semenyo, Kroupi is showing he could become just as big a star.
“When you’re 19 with eight goals, it’s incredible, especially when you don’t start every game,” manager Andoni Iraola told BBC Match of the Day. “He brings quality on the ball and works hard, so we keep him on the pitch. He can score and make a real difference for us.”
