Youssoufa Moukoko: Analyzing the development of Borussia Dortmund’s wunderkind

The 2022/23 season: A promising start for Youssoufa Moukoko

Borussia Dortmund’s matchday one game against Bayer Leverkusen was a prime example of Youssoufa Moukoko’s skill and development thus far. The single goal scored in the game came as a direct result of his ability to shield the ball from Edmond Tapsoba, before turning and beating him off the dribble.

The low cross that he sent across the box to Adeyemi was a shift in what fans have grown accustomed to seeing. Rather than taking a shot on goal with a defender on his back and the keeper in position, he made the pass that led to the winning-goal being scored.

Friday’s game away at Freiburg also highlighted Moukoko’s skill and his ability to impact a game.  Substituted on for Donyell Malen in the 70th minute, Moukoko linked up incredibly well with fellow teenage prodigy, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

Moukoko and Bynoe-Gittens had a clever one-two high up the pitch that led to the latter firing home the goal to bring Dortmund back from the brink. Seven minutes later, Moukoko positioned himself extremely well in the middle of the box and found himself on the end of a tapped pass from Julian Brandt that he expertly slotted into the bottom left corner. His super-sub performance against Freiburg was yet another example of just how talented Moukoko is and how far he has progressed.

This season could prove to be extremely crucial in Moukoko’s development and performance on the pitch. His best games were played in early 2021 when Edin Terzic was head coach. Already this campaign we are seeing Moukoko’s skills shine. And being in Terzic’s clearly defined system and team atmosphere should only serve to create the perfect environment for Moukoko to continue to develop into the superstar that he has the potential to be.

For us as on-lookers and fans, it would be wise for us to keep in mind simply how young Moukoko actually is, and also to realize that he has already begun to show lots of growth and evolution as a player. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic and excited about Moukoko. This season has the makings to be very fun for BVB fans, and seeing someone like Youssoufa Moukoko begin to grow into his own will be the cherry on top.