Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt has signed second-division goalscorer Younes Ebnoutalib from SV Elversberg. The 22-year-old has agreed to a contract until 2031, marking a record departure in the club's history. Ebnoutalib leads the 2. Bundesliga scoring charts with 12 goals.
Frankfurt/Main. Eintracht Frankfurt has signed 22-year-old striker Younes Ebnoutalib from SV Elversberg. The German-Moroccan, born in Frankfurt, has penned a deal until 2031. Neither club disclosed the official transfer fee, though speculation points to around eight million euros plus bonuses. This represents the most expensive departure in SVE's history.
Ebnoutalib's rise has been meteoric in recent months. Just over a year ago, he was playing in the Regionalliga for FC Gießen. His winter move to Elversberg cost only about 50,000 euros. In the current 2. Bundesliga season, he has become a breakout star: Leading the scoring charts with 12 goals, he has played a key role in SVE's second-place standing behind Schalke 04 after the first half of the season.
Eintracht's sporting director Markus Krösche praised the new signing: "Younes is a very goal-threatening player with excellent physicality. In recent months, he has taken the next steps in his development at Elversberg, which we want to advance together. We are convinced that he can quickly help us with his skills, especially since he brings all the athletic prerequisites."
The transfer aims to address Frankfurt's striker issues. National team player Jonathan Burkardt and veteran Michy Batshuayi are currently injured, while Elye Wahi has been a transfer disappointment and is considered a potential sale candidate.
For Elversberg, the club loses a crucial player in their promotion push. Ebnoutalib had a contract until 2028. Sporting director Ole Book stated: "We recognized early on that Younes has a lot of potential. He used the past year to work meticulously on himself and prove himself at a high level. He has earned the step up to the 1. Bundesliga."
