Who is Eli Junior Kroupi? Bournemouth star, 19, linked with Liverpool transfer

Despite spending huge fees on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike last year, Liverpool is being linked with a bid to sign Bournemouth prospect Eli Junior Kroupi

Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth(Image: 2026 James Gill - Danehouse)

Liverpool is being linked with a move for Bournemouth prospect Eli Junior Kroupi, who is enjoying a good debut season at Bournemouth.

The 19-year-old joined the Cherries from French outfit Lorient last summer, and has started his career on the South Coast encouragingly, scoring eight times in 21 appearances – making him Bournemouth's top scorer in the Premier League.

Only 11 of those 21 appearances have come as a starter, which make his statistics even more impressive. Kroupi was largely used as a substitute at the beginning of the season but is now a frequent starter under Andoni Iraola. Caught Offside reports that Liverpool is at the front of the queue to sign Kroupi this summer, despite spending heavily to reinforce the attack last summer.

Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were both signed at huge expense, and Kroupi favors playing as a striker, so it is unclear where he would fit into the Liverpool team were he to move to Merseyside.

Who is Kroupi?

Kroupi was born in the French town of Lorient and was picked up by the team as a young boy, spending 12 years there before the switch to Bournemouth.

The teenager became the youngest player in Lorient's history when he made his debut in June 2023, and featured regularly for the club during the 2023-24 season.. He scored five goals in 31 appearances in Ligue 1 as Lorient was relegated to the French second tier.

In the 2024-25 season, Kroupi scored an impressive 22 goals in 30 Ligue 2 appearances, helping Lorient to bounce straight back up to the top flight.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Everton and Bournemouth at Hill Dickinson Stadium on February 10, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

He has continued his fine scoring form since moving to England, and after his most recent Premier League strike – in Bournemouth's 2-0 win over Wolves at the end of January – he received high praise from Cherries boss Iraola.

"We can put him in that position around the box, he can score goals," Iraola said of Kroupi, who would command a significantly higher fee than the £10 million ($14 milion) that Bournemouth spent to sign him last year.

"I think now we will change the way we are playing around him. He gives us the quality on the ball which is always important. When you are 19 with eight goals it is incredible because he doesn't start every game. He is giving us the work-rate so we keep him in the pitch."