Mohamed Elyounoussi, a Moroccan native born on 4 August 1994, has made a name for himself in the football world for his top-notch skills as a left winger. Primarily associated with FC Copenhagen, Elyounoussi utilises his power-packed build, standing at 5ft 10in (1.78m) and weighing 11st (70kg), to dominate the pitch. Bearing the number 10 jersey, Elyounoussi's journey in the world of football has seen him moving across various clubs.
Elyounoussi started his professional journey in January 2011, with Sarpsborg 08 in the Eliteserien in Norway. He made a smooth transition in the team, with nine first team appearances in league matches during his debut season. By 2013, Elyounoussi gained enough grace and grip over the game, making 29 appearances and scoring six goals in league matches.
In March 2014, Elyounoussi transferred from Sarpsborg 08 to Molde, another Eliteserien team in Norway, for an undisclosed fee. This step in his career saw an upgrade in his performance, with 30 first team appearances and 13 goals in 2014 and 28 appearances with 12 goals in the subsequent season. His last season with Molde in 2016 witnessed him appearing 12 times in first team matches and contributing five goals.
In July 2016, Elyounoussi moved from the cold Norwegian heights to Swiss Super League, switching to FC Basel for a fee of around £2.8m. His time at Basel saw him score 20 goals across two seasons, maintaining a steady presence in the first team with 65 appearances.
Elyounoussi made the leap to England’s Premier League in July 2018, transferring from Basel to Southampton for a fee of around £16m. Despite making a substantial number of appearances in the Premier League during his time at Southampton, his scoring was somewhat muted in comparison with recent performances.
In August 2019, Elyounoussi undertook a loan move to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. His spell at Celtic was rather productive, with 44 appearances across two seasons and a handsome goal tally of 14. His contribution to Celtic's success can't be underestimated, positioning him as a key player.
But the call of England was strong, and in June 2021, he returned to Southampton on completion of his loan, contributing a number goals in a series of league matches.
His journey continued in July 2023, when he transferred from Southampton to FC Copenhagen in Denmark's Superliga. His current tenure at FC Copenhagen maintains a strong image, with Elyounoussi making his mark in the ongoing season. He has also made a splash in competitions such as Champions League 2023 - 2024 and Superliga Play-Offs 2023 - 2024, accruing a respectable number of goals.
Wherever his career may take him, Elyounoussi's story is a testament to how talent, determination, and perseverance can pave the way to success in the beautiful game.
