Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi, 20, has been called up to the France senior national team for the first time by head coach Zinedine Zidane, following the withdrawal of Marcus Thuram.
According to Dongqiudi, Zinedine Zidane has called up Eli Junior Kroupi to replace the withdrawn Marcus Thuram. For the first time, the striker features on the France senior national team list. Born in Lorient, the French-Ivorian has worn the blue shirt from the U16s to the U21s, with 5 caps and 3 goals for the Espoirs since September 2025, again according to the same source.
Nothing guarantees he will step onto the pitch: he could make his senior debut on Thursday 12 November against Italy or Sunday 15 November against Turkey, in the Nations League.
An Elephant father, a French choice
His father, Éli Kroupi, is Ivorian. Capped twice, he played for Lorient from 1999 to 2004 and won the 2002 Coupe de France. The player’s mother and grandmother hold Portuguese nationality, as reported by Dongqiudi.
But it is France that Eli Junior Kroupi chose, from the youth categories onwards. This first senior call-up extends a journey with the France teams that began at U16 level.
An early debut, goals in bunches
A product of Lorient, he is the youngest player in the club’s history to have made his professional debut, and the youngest in the 21st century to score two goals in a single Ligue 1 match, according to Dongqiudi. Bournemouth signed him for around €13 million in the 2024-2025 winter transfer window, before loaning him back to Lorient, where he finished as Ligue 2 top scorer with 22 goals.
Back at Bournemouth, he scored 13 goals in his first Premier League season, a record for a player under 20. He notably scored against Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, becoming the first player under 20 to score against the top three in the same Premier League campaign.
The season was however interrupted: a metatarsal fracture, operated on at the end of July 2026. He returned three months later.
Tottenham lurking, Bournemouth unmoved
His performances also caught Tottenham’s eye. According to Yahoo Sports, the London club was interested in him this summer and will return to the charge this winter. The available information mentions no offer at this stage.
Bournemouth, for their part, say he is not for sale.