One of the cornerstones of Bayer Leverkusen's incredible 2023/24 double-winning season, former Manchester City youngster Jeremie Frimpong ranks as one of the most electric wing-backs in world football today. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on the flying Dutchman...
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Data correct as of 30 May 2025
Jeremie Frimpong
Age: 24 (born 10 December 2000)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Right-back/ wing-back/ winger
Country: Netherlands (12 caps, one goal)
Key stats
Netherlands-born but with Ghanaian roots on his maternal side, Frimpong has actually spent the majority of his life in Great Britain. His family upped sticks for England when he was seven, and within two years the young boy from Amsterdam was kicking about in the Man City youth academy. Frimpong crossed paths with Jadon Sancho in the City U18s before the latter made a career-shaping move to Borussia Dortmund. Despite impressing with the U23s in Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League, the Dutchman left the Etihad Campus without playing a single minute of senior football.
Frimpong started out at Man City, but never played for the senior side. - Richard Lee/BPI/Shutterstock via www.imago-images.de
That's not all Frimpong has in common with Sancho. After a domestic treble-winning stint with Scottish giants Celtic, the 5'8" right-back looked to the Bundesliga to further his career. A January 2021 move to Leverkusen had the desired effect. He earned his maiden senior Netherlands cap during his first season at the club, quickly becoming not only a first-team staple but morphing into one of the most effective right-sided full-backs in the business.
Frimpong's third full season in Leverkusen colours was proof of that, with his 14 goals and seven assists helping Die Werkself go unbeaten on their way to lifting the Bundesliga and DFB Cup whilst reaching the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final. Those eye-watering numbers were always going to be a tough act to follow, but Frimpong still managed five goals and 11 assists across all competitions as Bayer competed on three fronts once more in 2024/25. He featured in all but one Bundesliga game in the recently-completed campaign, finishing just behind Leipzig's Ridle Baku in terms of league sprints, with 1021.
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Plays a bit like: Achraf Hakimi
When his teams are in possession, Frimpong behaves like a right winger rather than a right-back. He has the pace to eat up ground in the final third and boasts a keen eye for a decisive pass, and in 2023/24 his finishing went to a whole new level. Despite his attacking prowess, Frimpong doesn't shirk his defensive duties, with his acceleration the fuel for some rocket-propelled recovery challenges.
Achraf Hakimi brought the best of both worlds to the table during a two-year loan spell spent dovetailing with Sancho at Dortmund, but Frimpong has improved on that, and has become an attacking powerhouse in his own right.
Did you know?
If Frimpong wasn't such a talented footballer, he could no doubt make his way in the world as a translator or interpreter.
"It was English that was spoken in the house when I was growing up," he told goal.com. "That and the Ghanaian language called Twi. My mum would normally speak that to me, but my brothers and sisters all speak English. I'm still working on my Dutch. I know how to speak it a little."
Before becoming a full international, Frimpong won a handful of U19, U20 and U21 caps for the Netherlands. He was previously eligible to represent Ghana and England at senior level prior to making his debut for the Oranje in October 2023.
What they're saying
"I see a grown-up Jerry. It is important not only to play well, but also to understand the profession, the work. He understands why you do certain things. He had a big influence last season. He still has that influence now, but with a slightly different game, with fewer transitions and more control." - outgoing Leverkusen head coach Alonso in October 2023
"In recent years, Jeremie Frimpong has not only become one of our team's best players, but in his position as an attacking right-back, he has become one of the best players in the Bundesliga." - Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes
"We always say Jerry can't shoot at all... but he has scored a lot of goals." - Bayer teammate Robert Andrich
"Young, accomplished on the ball, versatile, with real pace and a very lively style of play: if Jeremie continues in the same way in the coming years, he could be an important part of our team." - former Leverkusen CEO Rudi Völler
"I've never seen a better kid than him. The quality of his play, the pace of his play, the end product. His fitness levels are incredible, I think that the fans have really taken to him." - former Celtic head coach Neil Lennon