Assan Ouédraogo’s Promising Season Marred by Injury Setback

RB Leipzig and German national team midfielder Assan Ouédraogo has faced an unfortunate setback following what was otherwise a remarkable week in his young career. The 19-year-old talent will be sidelined for the entirety of the 2025 calendar year due to a tendon injury in his knee, as confirmed by his Bundesliga club.

This news comes just eight days after Ouédraogo made his senior national team debut and a mere two days after he scored a stunning goal that was a contender for the “Bundesliga goal of the season” against Bremen.

Leipzig has indicated that the injury is expected to keep Ouédraogo out of action for “several weeks.” This follows a promising comeback from a challenging 2024/25 campaign, during which his appearances for the club were limited due to previous injuries. In the current season, he has managed to score three goals and provide four assists in 12 matches across all competitions.

Having recently made his debuts for both the Germany U21 and senior national teams this autumn, Ouédraogo was already being considered as a potential candidate for the upcoming summer World Cup. In a statement addressing the injury, Leipzig’s sporting director Marcel Schäfer expressed disappointment over the situation.

“It’s an incredible shame that Assan is out of action right now,” Schäfer remarked. “He was on a very good path, had made great strides in recent weeks, and had become a German international. This injury is all the more bitter for him and also for us as a team. We are keeping our fingers crossed for Assan for a speedy and full recovery.”