Younes Ebnoutalib, Frankfurt's Young Striker Who Could Be Germany's No. 9 Answer in the Klopp Era

Younes Ebnoutalib's name has surged sharply in the Bundesliga this season. The Eintracht Frankfurt forward has scored three goals and provided one assist in just three appearances, sparking speculation that he could be a long-term solution for Germany's No. 9 position as the national team searches for identity under new coach Jürgen Klopp.

Ebnoutalib's journey to the top was not instant. After finishing the first half of the 2025 season as Bundesliga 2's top scorer with Elversberg, scoring 12 goals in 17 matches, he moved to Frankfurt in January of this year and signed a five-and-a-half-year contract through 30 June 2031. His debut was sweet: he scored against Borussia Dortmund, showing remarkable composure in front of Gregor Kobel. However, a knee ligament injury in his second match against VfB Stuttgart forced him to the sidelines for nearly the entire season.

Rather than sinking, Ebnoutalib bounced back with an explosion of form. In this season's opener, he scored a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Union Berlin, after previously contributing a goal in the 11-0 DFB Cup win over Tönis. His three-goal display in Berlin showcased a complete spectrum of finishing: an equalizer in the 10th minute from inside the six-yard box, a calm finish under goalkeeper Matheo Raab a minute later, and a clinical volley from inside the penalty area.

The striker crisis has haunted the Germany national team since Miroslav Klose retired, the record goalscorer with 71 goals in 137 caps. In the eras of Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann, various striker profiles were tried, but none truly filled the void. Niclas Füllkrug and Tim Kleindienst only made their debuts at age 29; although productive, injuries hampered their consistency. Kai Havertz has been Germany's top scorer since 2020, with 24 of his 25 goals coming after the turn of the decade, including five goals at the 2026 World Cup, but he lacks the physical presence of a pure center-forward. Deniz Undav has more often been a super-sub, while Nick Woltemade has yet to receive a meaningful opportunity.

"He works incredibly hard for the team," said Eintracht Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter. "And when you always work as hard as that, you will get your reward."

Ebnoutalib offers a package of attributes rarely found in German strikers recently. His tall frame does not diminish his explosive speed. Close ball control, an ability to find space, and a predator's instinct in the penalty area make him resemble Klose in his prime. He is also capable of dropping into midfield, running in behind the defense, and stretching the opposition's back line—qualities that suit Klopp's style, which demands forwards be involved in the build-up.

This season, he has recorded two assists in five matches, adding a new dimension to his game. With Germany's opening Nations League matches against the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia on the horizon, Ebnoutalib, who has never played for the senior national team, has a strong chance of being a surprise. He is not merely a supplement; he could be a game-changer in an attack that is being overhauled.

For Indonesian football fans, the Ebnoutalib phenomenon mirrors how important the domestic competition is as a stage for proving oneself. Bundesliga 2, often regarded as the second tier, has proven capable of producing sharp forwards who immediately shine at the highest level. The Indonesian national team, which is aggressively searching for a pure striker, can take a lesson: giving young players space in the domestic league is a long-term investment. Moreover, Ebnoutalib's success at Frankfurt shows that German clubs dare to trust players from the lower divisions—a model that Liga 1 clubs could adopt.

The question now is: will Klopp call him up soon? If Ebnoutalib keeps scoring, public pressure for his debut will only grow. The match against Serbia in September could be the decisive moment. If he performs impressively, it is not impossible that Germany will find the No. 9 answer they have been seeking for years.