Jürgen Klopp visited Eintracht Frankfurt’s training ground for a lengthy one-to-one talk with Younes Ebnoutalib, seeking to convince the Morocco-eligible striker to choose Germany. The 22-year-old, born in Frankfurt to a German mother and Moroccan father, has never earned senior caps for either country. His hat-trick against Union Berlin caught Klopp’s attention. Morocco’s federation, meanwhile, runs its own diaspora scouting network. The details behind this pursuit reveal more than a simple recruitment pitch.
Jürgen Klopp made a personal trip to Eintracht Frankfurt’s training ground for an extended pitch-side conversation with Younes Ebnoutalib, according to club images, as Germany’s coach seeks to persuade the Morocco-eligible striker to commit his international future to the DFB. The meeting was described as a long, one-to-one exchange focused squarely on Ebnoutalib’s eligibility and where his senior career might lead.
Reports characterised Klopp as enthused by the 22-year-old, with particular attention drawn to his technical ability and his profile as a potential striker option for Germany going forward. The visit came shortly after Ebnoutalib scored a hat-trick against Union Berlin, a performance that reportedly caught Klopp’s eye and accelerated interest from the DFB camp.
Ebnoutalib’s eligibility situation is straightforward on paper but complicated in practice. Born in Frankfurt to a German mother and Moroccan father, he qualifies to play for either nation at senior level. He was previously called up to Morocco’s under-15 setup but has never featured for any senior side, leaving both doors open. Morocco’s forward pipeline already includes emerging talents such as Hamza Igamane, the Lille striker whose rise through FAR Rabat and Rangers has drawn comparisons to established names like Youssef En-Nesyri. Morocco’s federation has increasingly relied on a dedicated diaspora scouting department covering France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and beyond, identifying heritage players as young as eight or nine before rival nations can act.
That openness has been reinforced by his own comments. Ebnoutalib has repeatedly said he remains willing to represent either country, while admitting frustration at being left out of Morocco’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. He described the omission as “a shame,” though he added he was happy for the teammates who were selected.
His form this season has made the decision harder to ignore. Frankfurt’s opening-day 3-3 draw saw him score all three of the team’s goals, and the Union Berlin hat-trick followed soon after, cementing his reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s early breakout performers. The campaign also marks a return from previous injury problems, underlining why Frankfurt signed him in the first place.
At 22, Ebnoutalib represents a medium-term solution to Germany’s ongoing search for striking depth rather than an immediate fix. Nothing has been decided, and no formal announcement has been made by either federation. For now, the matter rests with a player who has said his central ambition is simply to represent a national team, without yet specifying which one.
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