Jürgen Klopp's Germany Plans Hit by Assan Ouédraogo Injury

Jürgen Klopp’s Germany plans have taken an early hit before they’ve even properly begun.

The new national team coach is due to announce his first squad next Thursday for Nations League games against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia. One of the brightest young names expected to be in that conversation, Assan Ouédraogo, may now be out of the frame.

The 20-year-old Leipzig midfielder suffered a fresh shoulder injury in his club’s 5-0 demolition of Hamburg on Sunday. He started the match but his afternoon ended abruptly in the 35th minute after a collision with Albert Grønbæk, forcing him off and sending alarm bells ringing in both Leipzig and Frankfurt.

The concern is not just the timing. It’s the history.

Leipzig fear the problem is linked to the same shoulder issue that sidelined Ouédraogo for the whole of last August. Those worries were echoed by his coach, Martín Demichelis, who did not sugarcoat the situation.

“I think it's the same injury. Things don't look promising. We need him. He is an amazing talent, both for Germany and for our club,” Demichelis said.

For Ouédraogo, it is another cruel twist in a stop-start spell since joining Leipzig in 2024. Injuries have stalked his young career there: he has already spent more than 380 days on the sidelines, an extraordinary figure for a player of his age and importance.

Now, with Klopp preparing to put his stamp on Germany and scan the Bundesliga for form and potential, one of the most gifted midfielders of his generation may again be reduced to a spectator. Early estimates suggest Ouédraogo could miss several weeks.

Klopp’s first squad was supposed to showcase a new era and fresh energy. Instead, it may begin with a reminder of just how fragile that promise can be.