Borussia Dortmund official discusses Youssoufa Moukoko development

Borussia Dortmund youth academy director Paul Schaffran has reflected on the development of Youssoufa Moukoko, suggesting the club would take a different tactical approach if the player were in the academy today.

Moukoko, once considered a generational talent, is currently on loan at Turkish Süper Lig side Çorum FK, where he has struggled to secure regular playing time. Schaffran noted that while Moukoko scored 50 to 60 goals per season in youth football, many of those goals came from solo runs starting in midfield—a style he described as nearly impossible to replicate in professional football, with the possible exception of Lionel Messi.

To better prepare him for the professional level, Schaffran stated the club would have considered developing Moukoko as a number 10 or number 8 rather than a pure center-forward. He suggested that while this might have resulted in fewer goals during his youth career, it would have produced a more complete and effective professional player.