Eli Junior Kroupi enjoyed an impressive breakthrough campaign last season.
Eli Junior Kroupi enjoyed an impressive breakthrough campaign last season, scoring a club-high 13 Premier League goals in his first full season.
Five of those strikes came in Bournemouth’s final eight league matches as the Cherries finished sixth and secured Europa League qualification under former head coach Andoni Iraola.
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The 20-year-old’s form attracted interest from several top clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona, who saw two bids rejected by the Cherries.
Bournemouth have consistently maintained that the French forward is not for sale. The club had already strengthened their attacking options this summer by signing 22-year-old striker Alvaro Rodríguez from Elche in a deal worth £21million.
Eli Junior Kroupi joined Bournemouth from Lorient in January 2025, with the French club also part of the Black Knight Football multi-club group, before remaining on loan until the end of that season.
He has represented France at youth level up to the Under-21s and helped his country reach the final of the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
According to The Athletic, Kroupi has undergone surgery on a foot injury and is expected to be sidelined for three to four months. Bournemouth later confirmed the news in an official statement.
“AFC Bournemouth can confirm that Junior Kroupi has undergone successful surgery after sustaining a foot injury during a pre-season training session in Austria,” a club statement read.
“The 20-year-old returned to the UK earlier this week to undergo the procedure and will consequently face a spell on the sidelines. Junior will now be supported by the club’s medical and performance staff as he begins a period of rehabilitation.
“Everyone at AFC Bournemouth extends their best wishes to Junior and looks forward to seeing him back on the pitch.
The striker sustained the injury during the club’s pre-season training camp in Austria and returned to England for treatment.
He underwent surgery on Wednesday and is not expected to return until October or November, dealing a significant blow to Bournemouth ahead of the new season.
Bournemouth
Eli Junior Kroupi