Image Credits: Imago Images
Swedish football has developed a quiet reputation as a launching pad for talented young players with eyes on bigger things, and Abdoulaye Doumbia looks like the latest to fit that mould.
The 18-year-old defensive midfielder only arrived at Swedish outfit BK Hacken at the start of 2026, but he is already attracting attention – and has now spoken openly about his long-term ambitions, with Liverpool among the clubs he named as a dream destination.
Doumbia joined Hacken from ASEC Mimosas, the renowned Ivorian academy that has previously produced the likes of Kolo Toure, Yaya Touré, Emmanuel Eboue and Gervinho. The 18-year-old signed a five-year deal with the Swedish club and has made nine appearances since arriving, including his first league start in April.
The Liverpool connection came about after Swedish outlet Sportbladet reported that three Ligue 1 clubs – RC Strasbourg, OGC Nice and Stade Rennais – had sent scouts to Sweden to watch Doumbia.
Fotboll Direkt then went straight to the source, contacting the teenager for his response to those reports.
He was quick to keep his focus on Hacken: “I didn’t know that. All I want is to play and help the team. If I’m on the pitch, I play my football and after that it’s done. I’m not thinking about other clubs now. My focus is on my club BK Häcken and after that we’ll see,” he said.
When the outlet pressed him on his broader ambitions, Doumbia laid out a vision that few teenagers could be faulted for having.
“My dream is to play in the best leagues, the biggest tournaments like the Champions League. I want to play with my national team in the World Cup and win trophies,” Doumbia explained.
When quizzed on whether he had a favoured club, he mentioned Liverpool alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona as his dream clubs:
“I like Real Madrid and Barcelona too. I can also imagine playing for clubs like Liverpool,” he added.
He is far from the only youngster in the Swedish first division to talk up a potential move to Anfield.
For now, Doumbia has nine appearances under his belt and a five-year contract at a club that has shown in recent years it can develop players for bigger stages. The path to Anfield, the Bernabeu or the Camp Nou is a long one – but at 18, the Ivorian has plenty of time to make his case.