Niels Nkounkou

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Nkounkou started his career with Cergy Pontoise, signing for Marseille in 2017. He joined Everton on a free transfer in July 2020. In January 2023, he signed for Ligue 2 club Saint-Étienne on loan; the deal was eventually made permanent. On 1 September 2023, he signed a five-year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt. On 1 September 2025, he moved on loan to Torino in Italy, with an option to buy and a conditional obligation to buy.

In Their Own Story

The 87th minute at Deutsche Bank Park. Eintracht Frankfurt are trailing 1-0 to Köln. Niels Nkounkou, just signed on 1 September 2023, is sent on from the bench. The ball falls to him, and he strikes it cleanly, finding the net for an equaliser. It's his debut for the club, and he's already made his mark. This moment is the culmination of a journey that started at Cergy Pontoise, continued through Marseille's youth ranks where he played for the B team and trained with the first team, and led to a move to Everton. At Everton, he impressed in the EFL Cup, forming a partnership with Anthony Gordon and providing a back-heeled assist for Moise Kean. He made his Premier League debut on 1 November 2020 against Newcastle United, stepping in for the suspended Lucas Digne. After a loan to Saint-Étienne that became permanent, he found his way to Frankfurt, where his debut goal announced his arrival.

Reader's Guide

Nkounkou made his professional debut for Everton in a 3–0 EFL Cup victory against Salford City. He scored on his debut for Eintracht Frankfurt, coming off the bench to net an 87th minute equaliser in a 1–1 draw vs Koln. He has been capped twice for France's U19 side and made his debut for the France Olympic team at Tokyo 2020.

Did You Know?

• Nkounkou is of Republic of Congo descent.
• He made his international debut for the France Olympic team at Tokyo 2020.
• He was named in the UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year for 2022–23.