Younes Ebnoutalib - Centre-Forward
- Footie Scout AI
- Dec 11, 2025
- 11 min read
YOUNES EBNOUTALIB: From Frankfurt’s Streets to Elversberg’s Rising Star
If German football loves an underdog story, then Younes Ebnoutalib is fast becoming one of its favourites. The tall, athletic German-Moroccan forward has burst into the spotlight with SV Elversberg, turning a career full of bends, bumps and brave decisions into one of the most exciting breakout seasons in the 2. Bundesliga.
Born in Frankfurt, Ebnoutalib began his football journey in the local scene with SV 07 Heddernheim and later Rot-Weiss Frankfurt, before stepping into the academy setup at SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Nothing came easy. He was never the golden-boy academy prodigy—rather the raw, hungry type who forced his own path. That hunger took him abroad early, joining AC Perugia’s youth system in Italy. It was a bold move, but life in Italy proved challenging; minutes were scarce, adaptation was difficult, and injuries slowed his rhythm. When he eventually returned to Germany without a club, it looked, from the outside, like his momentum had vanished.
But Ebnoutalib doesn’t do giving up.
His return to form began in the most unglamorous of settings: the Regionalliga with FC Gießen. It wasn’t the kind of place where scouts camp every weekend, but it suited his rebuild. In Gießen, he rediscovered his scoring touch and confidence, leaning into his physical frame, his ability to burst past defenders, and his natural instinct around the penalty area. It didn’t take long before clubs higher up the pyramid started paying attention.
Elversberg made their move in January 2025, signing him to a long-term deal through 2028 — a statement of belief in a player who many still considered a gamble. That gamble paid off quickly. By the autumn of 2025, Ebnoutalib had already rattled in more than ten goals from just thirteen or so appearances. His sudden impact included a stunning hat-trick during Elversberg’s 6–0 demolition of Greuther Fürth, a match that announced him not just as a promising youngster, but as a genuine threat in Germany’s second tier.
What stands out about Ebnoutalib is the profile of striker he has become. At around 1.91 metres tall, he is an imposing figure, but he moves with the stride of a winger rather than a traditional target man. His sprint speed has been clocked beyond 34 km/h — the kind of acceleration normally associated with wide forwards — and defenders struggle to contain him when he starts running the channels. He times his movements with maturity, drifting off the shoulder of centre-backs, arriving late into spaces, and attacking crosses with a blend of physical power and timing that gives him a real edge inside the box.
Mentally, he carries the aura of someone who has had to fight for every step. Having been released, sent abroad, overlooked, and injured, he plays as if each chance might be his last. That drive shows up in his pressing, his work rate, and the way he holds off defenders, sometimes dragging entire back lines around with him. While he is most at home as a central striker, his background in youth football and his athleticism mean he can drift into wider positions or even drop into the hole when Elversberg need a more fluid shape.
As his reputation grows, so does the spotlight. Bundesliga clubs are tracking him closely, and early whispers place his value anywhere between €6 and €8 million — remarkable for a player who, not long ago, was grinding in the fourth tier. Still, Ebnoutalib appears in no rush to jump ship. He has already stated his intention to finish the season with Elversberg, focusing on consistency and building something meaningful with the club that believed in him when few others did.
His journey is a reminder of what makes football so compelling: talent is never a straight line. Ebnoutalib’s rise — from Frankfurt’s youth pitches, to a difficult spell in Italy, to near obscurity in the Regionalliga, and now to one of the most exciting goal scorers in the 2. Bundesliga — is the story of a player who refused to disappear.
And if he keeps scoring at this pace, it won’t be long before the wider football world discovers what Elversberg fans already know: this is a striker on the way up, and he’s nowhere near finished climbing.
2025 Statistics (Liga MX Apertura)
Matches | Started | Mins Played | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | 11 | 1,083 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Younes Ebnoutalib’s breakout season has gone from promising to downright explosive. With 15 appearances under his belt — 11 of them starts — he has already logged 1,083 minutes of football and turned that time into an extraordinary return. His tally of 11 goals is the headline figure, a strike rate worthy of the league’s elite, especially for a player still establishing himself at this level.
Although he hasn’t registered an assist yet, his impact in the final third is undeniable, constantly stretching defences and forcing mistakes. Discipline hasn’t been an issue either, picking up just 1 yellow card and no reds across the campaign.
What he’s producing right now isn’t just good form — it’s the statistical profile of a striker who’s rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous finishers in the league.
Shooting
Goals | 11 |
|---|---|
Expected goals (xG) | 10.06 |
xG on target (xGOT) | 9.46 |
Non-penalty xG | 10.06 |
Shots | 43 |
Shots on target | 20 |
If there’s one part of Younes Ebnoutalib’s game that has truly ignited this season, it’s his shooting. With 11 goals already, he’s finishing at a rate that suggests this isn’t luck — it’s lethal instinct. His 10.06 expected goals (xG) shows he’s consistently getting into high-quality areas, and remarkably, his non-penalty xG is identical, proving he doesn’t need spot-kicks to inflate his numbers. This is a striker who earns his chances the hard way.
What’s even more impressive is his xG on target (xGOT) of 9.46, a metric that reflects shooting quality once the ball leaves his boot. In other words: when Younes hits the target, goalkeepers feel it. He’s not just finding the right positions — he’s striking the ball cleanly, powerfully, and with purpose.
Across 43 total shots, with 20 hitting the target, he’s testing defences and goalkeepers relentlessly. Nearly half of his on-frame efforts force a real decision out of the man between the posts, the kind of pressure that breaks games open and bends momentum.
Put simply, Ebnoutalib shoots like a striker who believes he’s going to score — and more often than not, he does.
Passing
Assists | 0 |
|---|---|
Expected assists (xA) | 0.48 |
Successful passes | 91 |
Pass accuracy | 82% |
Accurate long balls | 1 |
Long ball accuracy | 100% |
Chances created | 7 |
Successful crosses | 0 |
Cross accuracy | 0% |
Younes Ebnoutalib might not have an assist to his name yet, but don’t be fooled — his passing numbers paint the picture of a striker who understands his role and executes it with surprising maturity. His 0.48 expected assists (xA) shows that he has been putting teammates into promising positions; he just hasn’t had the finishing support to turn those moments into official statistics.
Across the season, he’s completed 91 successful passes with a tidy 82% accuracy, a rate that many forwards simply don’t hit. For a striker who is often operating in tight spaces, under pressure, with defenders climbing over him, that kind of efficiency stands out. It shows calmness, awareness, and the ability to recycle possession instead of forcing low-percentage plays.
He’s not a long-ball artist, but when he does hit one, it counts — 1 accurate long ball with a perfect 100% success rate, a fun little quirk that hints at underrated technique. He’s also responsible for creating 7 chances, which quietly reinforces that he contributes to the build-up far more than his assist tally suggests.
Not everything in his passing game is polished yet; he hasn’t landed a single successful cross (0 crosses, 0% accuracy), but that’s hardly a weakness for a striker who spends most of his time finishing moves, not delivering them.
Overall, Ebnoutalib’s passing profile is what every goal scorer needs: simple, reliable, and just dangerous enough to keep defenders guessing. He may feast on goals, but the connective tissue he provides between midfield and attack is becoming an increasingly important part of his game.
Possession
Successful dribbles | 5 |
|---|---|
Dribble success | 31.2% |
Touches | 259 |
Touches in opposition box | 78 |
Dispossessed | 10 |
Fouls won | 7 |
Penalties awarded | 0 |
When Younes Ebnoutalib gets on the ball, something usually happens — even if it’s not always tidy. Across the season he’s made 259 touches, and a remarkable 78 of those have come inside the opposition box, which tells you everything about the areas he loves to occupy. He lives where defenders hate to defend: right in their faces, right in the danger zone, always asking awkward questions.
His dribbling numbers are a mixed bag, with 5 successful dribbles and a 31.2% success rate, but that actually fits his playing style. He’s not out there trying to be a showman; he dribbles with a purpose — to get into shooting positions, to turn a centre-back, or to drive directly at goal. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it always puts defenders under pressure.
He’s been dispossessed 10 times, which is hardly surprising for a striker who constantly receives the ball in congested central areas with defenders snapping at his heels. Yet his ability to win 7 fouls along the way reflects his strength and savvy — he forces defenders into contact and makes them think twice before stepping in.
He may not have earned a penalty yet (0 awarded this season), but the way he positions himself in the box suggests it’s only a matter of time before a desperate defender mistimes a challenge and gifts him one.
Ebnoutalib’s possession game isn’t about elegance; it’s about pressure, presence, and relentless threat. Every touch feels like a problem the opposition has to solve — and more often than not, they struggle to find the answer.
Defending
Tackles | 6 |
|---|---|
Duels won | 32 |
Duels won % | 36% |
Aerial duels won | 14 |
Aerial duels won % | 32.6% |
Interceptions | 1 |
Blocked shots | 0 |
Fouls committed | 9 |
Recoveries | 13 |
Possession won final 3rd | 4 |
Younes Ebnoutalib’s defensive numbers paint a picture of a striker who works hard for the team, even if the execution isn’t always polished. He has made 6 tackles this season, which for a centre-forward is a healthy level of engagement, especially in a system that relies heavily on pressing from the front. His 32 duels won show he doesn’t shy away from physical battles, but the 36% success rate also reveals that he loses more of these contests than he wins. The effort is unquestionably there — the efficiency can still improve.
Aerially, it’s a similar story. With 14 aerial duels won at a 32.6% success rate, he competes for everything, but doesn’t dominate as consistently as his physical profile suggests he could. That said, his constant willingness to challenge is valuable in itself, forcing defenders into mistakes and keeping them uncomfortable even when he doesn’t come out on top.
Defensive intelligence is beginning to show in flashes. His lone interception suggests he’s still learning how to read opponents’ passing patterns, but moments like this hint at an emerging awareness. The absence of any blocked shots makes sense — he’s not being asked to track deep into his own box — but he does offer value higher up the pitch, where Elversberg want him to cause chaos.
That’s where he shines. His 13 recoveries and 4 instances of possession won in the final third are genuinely important contributions. Winning the ball that high up the pitch is one of the most dangerous things a forward can do; it instantly turns defending into attacking, and often into scoring opportunities. Ebnoutalib may not be the most refined defensive forward yet, but he’s disruptive, energetic, and almost always forcing opponents to rush their decisions.
He’s also committed 9 fouls, which reflects both his intensity and his occasional lack of timing. It’s not a bad thing — aggressive forwards unsettle back lines — but tightening that aspect of his pressing would make him even more effective.
Overall, Ebnoutalib defends the way he plays: full of effort, intent, and physicality. The numbers show clear areas to polish, but also enough raw work rate and pressing value to make him a real asset out of possession.
What the Fans Think of Younes Ebnoutalib
Ask around Elversberg and you’ll quickly realise that Younes Ebnoutalib has become something of a cult hero. Supporters adore him not because he is flawless, but because he represents everything they love about their club: hard work, hunger, humility, and the thrill of watching someone rise the hard way. For a fanbase that prides itself on spotting talent before the rest of the world catches on, Ebnoutalib feels like the perfect discovery — a striker plucked from the lower leagues who suddenly looks like he has no intention of stopping.
Across German football circles, the reaction is similar. Neutral 2. Bundesliga fans see him as one of the league’s breakout stories, the type of player who appears seemingly out of nowhere and immediately throws the script out the window. They admire the rawness of his game and the fact that he doesn’t hide. Whether he’s scoring or battling or pressing himself into exhaustion, there’s an honesty and intensity to the way he plays that fans naturally gravitate towards.
Opposition supporters might groan when they see his name on the team sheet, but there is a grudging respect there too. They know he’s a handful — always leaning into duels, always chasing lost causes, always forcing defenders into uncomfortable positions. Even when he’s not scoring, he’s creating chaos, and fans of rival clubs recognise that kind of striker instantly.
Of course, the more analytical fans don’t shy away from pointing out the areas where he’s still rough around the edges. They see the heavy touches, the lost duels, the moments where his technique can’t quite keep up with his ambition. But the tone isn’t critical in a dismissive way — it’s the type of commentary reserved for players who excite you so much that you can’t help wanting them to improve. For every flaw mentioned, there’s a sense of “If he sharpens that part of his game, he could be frightening.”
And perhaps the clearest sign of how highly he’s rated is the growing belief that he won’t be at Elversberg forever. Fans talk about him with a mixture of pride and inevitability, as if they already know the rest of Germany is starting to take notice. Some speak openly about the Bundesliga, others imagine interest from abroad, but almost all agree that if he keeps scoring, he’s destined for a bigger stage.
What makes all of this so compelling is that Younes Ebnoutalib hasn’t just won over fans with goals — he’s won them over with his story, his attitude, and the feeling that he’s only just getting started. In the stands, the sentiment isn’t complicated: he’s one of them, he’s giving everything, and they’re loving every minute of his rise.
Why Clubs Should Sign Younes Ebnoutalib
Younes Ebnoutalib is the kind of striker clubs pretend they discover, the sort of late-blooming, high-impact forward who looks better every time you dig into the data. What makes him so appealing isn’t just the goals — though 11 goals in 1,083 minutes would be enough to attract attention on its own — it’s the trajectory. He’s rising steeply, learning quickly, and proving he can adapt to higher levels at remarkable speed.
From a scouting perspective, he checks boxes that are otherwise expensive to buy. He’s 1.91m, fast, relentlessly competitive in duels, and plays with the hunger of a striker who remembers what it felt like to be overlooked. His 10.06 non-penalty xG shows his scoring chances aren’t a fluke, while his xGOT of 9.46 proves he strikes the ball well once he gets into position. Players who combine elite shot quality with physically disruptive pressing tend to go far.
He works. He presses. He chases hopeless balls and turns them into half-chances. His 13 recoveries and 4 possessions won in the final third are a coach’s dream in the modern game. He might not be polished in every area, but that’s exactly why he’s valuable: he produces top-level outputs while still having obvious room to grow. You’re buying both the current goals and the future ceiling.
A striker who comes from the Regionalliga and scores like this in the 2. Bundesliga is either a shooting star — or the start of a seriously upward curve. Ebnoutalib looks much more like the latter.
Footie Scout AI Rating: 5/5 - If your looking for a striker that scores goals for a great price then Younes Ebnoutalib is your man!
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