Nagelsmann Names Assan Ouedraogo to German National Team in Surprise Call-Up
BERLIN – In a late addition to his squad, Germany national team manager Julian Nagelsmann has nominated RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, replacing Nadiem Amiri. The move comes as a surprise, highlighting Ouedraogo’s rapid ascent in the Bundesliga despite recent injury setbacks.
“Which is why we decided to nominate Assan Ouedraogo,” Nagelsmann explained. “Assan is currently doing very well in the Bundesliga. He is a young, promising player, similar to Said El Mala, who we would like to see in training.” ouedraogo, born in Mülheim an der Ruhr in 2006, has quickly become a key player for RB Leipzig, establishing himself in the starting lineup after overcoming a serious knee injury and subsequent thigh surgery that limited him to just 70 minutes of play across five appearances last season.
The 2023 U17 world champion was initially slated for the U21 national team but has now been fast-tracked to the senior squad. Ouedraogo’s strong performances this season – two goals and three assists in ten Bundesliga games – have propelled him into contention. He was previously nominated for the U21 national team in October.
Ouedraogo joined RB Leipzig from Schalke in the summer of 2024, attracting interest from clubs like Bayern Munich. He is the third RB player named to Nagelsmann’s squad, joining full-backs Ridle Baku and David Raum. Nagelsmann recently indicated Ouedraogo, along with Lennart Karl and Tresoldi, where players who coudl perhaps impact the World Cup draw.