Germany: Ebnoutalib announced in Klopp’s first squad

Younes Ebnoutalib is set to receive his first call-up to the German national team. According to information from Sky Sport Germany, the Eintracht Frankfurt forward has received an invitation from Jürgen Klopp and is expected to be part of the first squad assembled by the new German coach. The official list will be unveiled on Thursday, September 17, at 10 a.m. by the German Football Association.

At 23 years old, Ebnoutalib has yet to play for the senior German team. His situation is particularly monitored in Morocco as he also holds Moroccan nationality. Sky reports that the Frankfurt native has decided to accept Germany’s call rather than pursue the Moroccan option. The player had previously been called up to the Moroccan U15 national team.

This likely call-up rewards his excellent start to the season with Eintracht Frankfurt. Ebnoutalib has scored three goals and provided one assist in three Bundesliga matches, notably netting a hat-trick on the opening day against Union Berlin. Across all competitions, the Frankfurt club attributes four goals and two assists to him in four appearances this season.

Jürgen Klopp had already expressed interest in the forward at the beginning of September. The German coach visited Frankfurt and had an extensive discussion with the player, with Sky revealing that the coach wanted to personally convince him to choose the national team. A few days later, Ebnoutalib now seems very close to making that decision.

Klopp is also expected to take advantage of this first international window to call up an expanded squad. Germany will face the Netherlands on September 24, Greece on September 27, Serbia on October 1, and again Greece on October 4 as part of the Nations League. Sky also mentions the name of Soufiane El-Faouzi, who is highly regarded by the new coach, but his inclusion in the list currently appears less certain than that of Ebnoutalib.

However, caution remains until the official announcement from the DFB on Thursday. At this stage, Sky Sport clearly presents Ebnoutalib as part of Klopp’s future squad, but the call-up has not yet been formally published by the German Football Association.