Yussuf Poulsen

Lore & Background

After starting his professional career with Lyngby, he transferred to RB Leipzig in 2013, helping them from the 3. Liga to the Bundesliga in the space of three seasons. He holds the RB Leipzig record for most appearances with over 300, and has scored over 80 goals for the club. He played in the DFB-Pokal final in 2019 and 2021. Poulsen made his international debut for Denmark in 2014 and has earned over 80 caps. He was part of their squad at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2020, reaching the semi-finals of the 2020 tournament.

Reader's Guide

Poulsen began playing football at Skjold. At age 14 he joined Lyngby's youth ranks. He made his senior debut on 4 December 2011. He scored his first senior goal on 5 August 2012.

He signed for RB Leipzig on 3 July 2013. He made his club debut on 19 July 2013. He scored his first goals for Leipzig on 24 August 2013. He finished the 2013–14 season with 10 goals in 36 appearances.

In the 2014–15 season he scored 12 goals in 32 appearances. He scored seven goals in 32 appearances in 2015–16. He scored his first Bundesliga goal on 30 September 2016. He finished the 2016–17 season with five goals in 30 appearances.

He finished the 2017–18 season with five goals in 41 appearances. On 30 March 2019, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 win over Hertha BSC. He became the first-ever Leipzig player to score a hat-trick in the Bundesliga. He extended his contract to 2022.

He became the first Leipzig player to 250 appearances on 24 May 2020. He was ruled out for the rest of the 2019–20 season with ankle ligament damage. He scored five times on the way to the 2021 DFB-Pokal final. On 28 October 2021, he reached 300 matches.

On 13 July 2025, after 12 years in Leipzig, he signed with Hamburger SV. A month later, he was named captain. His debut was delayed by injury; he first appeared on 24 August 2025. He scored his first goal for Hamburg on 7 December 2025.

He finished the 2025–26 season with 16 total appearances and one goal. He made his international debut on 30 January 2013. He scored his first international goal on 13 June 2015. He was selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and scored in the opening game against Peru.

He was part of the Danish squad that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2020. He scored his first European Championship goal on 17 June 2021. He was also part of the Danish squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Did You Know?

• He founded a café in Copenhagen called Social in 2015.
• He was named man of the match in Denmark's opening game of the 2018 World Cup after scoring the lone goal against Peru.

The Architect of Leipzig's Rise

Yussuf Poulsen stands as the most capped player in RB Leipzig history, amassing over 300 appearances and scoring more than 80 goals during his twelve-year tenure. He joined the club on July 3, 2013, in the 3. Liga and was instrumental in their promotion to the Bundesliga within three seasons. His goal-scoring record includes 10 goals in 36 games during the 2013–14 season and 12 goals in 32 appearances in 2014–15, helping Leipzig finish as runners-up both times. He continued his form after promotion, scoring five goals in 30 matches in 2016–17 and becoming the first player to score a Bundesliga hat-trick for the club on March 30, 2019, against Hertha BSC. His longevity was confirmed when he became the first Leipzig player to reach 250 appearances in May 2020 and hit the 300-match mark on October 28, 2021, against Club Brugge.

A New Chapter in Hamburg

On July 13, 2025, after twelve years with RB Leipzig, Poulsen signed for Hamburger SV. He was named club captain ahead of the 2025–26 season but faced immediate injury setbacks that delayed his debut. He finally made his first appearance on August 24 in a scoreless draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach as a substitute. His first goal for the new club came on December 7 in the Nordderby; entering the match in the 83rd minute, he scored with his very first touch in the 84th minute to secure a 3–2 win over Werder Bremen. The season was physically demanding, with Poulsen missing time due to an undisclosed injury early on, followed by an ankle injury from December to February 2026, and a thigh strain in March. He returned on May 2 for seven minutes in a 2–1 win, finishing the campaign with 16 appearances and one goal.

International Milestones and Major Tournaments

Poulsen made his debut for Denmark on January 30, 2013, against Mexico. Although eligible for Tanzania through his father, he chose to represent Denmark after receiving no offers from the Tanzanian federation. He earned over 80 caps and scored his first international goal on June 13, 2015, against Serbia. A standout moment occurred at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he scored the lone goal in a 1–0 opening win against Peru and was named man of the match. He also played a vital role at UEFA Euro 2020, scoring against Belgium and Russia as Denmark reached the semi-finals. His tournament resume includes squad selections for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Euro 2024. Notably, he rejected a call-up to the 2016 Summer Olympics to focus on his club career at Leipzig.

Roots and Early Development

Born on June 15, 1994, Poulsen is of mixed heritage; his Tanzanian father worked on container ships between Tanga and Denmark before settling in Copenhagen, while his mother is Danish. His father passed away from cancer when Yussuf was six years old. He began his football journey at Skjold, initially playing as a defender alongside Kenneth Zohore. After Zohore left for Copenhagen, Poulsen switched to the striker position. At age 14, he joined Lyngby's youth ranks, making his senior debut on December 4, 2011, as an 84th-minute substitute against Horsens. Despite being relegated from Superligaen that season, he broke through in 2012, scoring eleven goals in 32 matches in the 1. Division before attracting interest from RB Leipzig.