Kroupi's Critical Injury
Bournemouth Star Eli Kroupi Out for Months After Foot Surgery, Missing Season Start
Key Points
Bournemouth will open the Premier League season on August 23 away to Manchester City.
In May, Portugal's manager Roberto Martínez approached Kroupi about representing Portugal through his mother, but he declined and reiterated his wish to play for France.
Barcelona would require a minimum €100 million to pursue Kroupi this summer, a price Barça were not willing to meet.
Kroupi has been linked with Tottenham, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, with Tottenham reportedly weighing bids in the £80-100 million range.
Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi will miss three to four months after undergoing foot surgery, the club confirmed. The 20-year-old suffered the injury during Bournemouth's pre-season trip to Austria and is not expected back until late October or November, according to beIN Sports.
The timing is painful for Bournemouth. The club opens its Premier League season on August 23 away to Manchester City — and now faces that challenge without last season's standout attacker. Kroupi scored 13 league goals in 2024-25, a breakout campaign that made him one of the most coveted strikers in Europe.
Fractured Metatarsal Ends Kroupi's Pre-Season Early
Kroupi fractured a metatarsal — a bone in the foot — during Bournemouth's Austrian pre-season camp, according to Football Place. He flew back to England for surgery, which the club confirmed was successful. Recovery is set at three to four months, putting his return somewhere around late October at the earliest.
The injury is a blow for new Bournemouth manager Marco Rose, who must begin his first Premier League season without one of his sharpest attacking weapons. Kroupi had broken the record for the most Premier League goals scored by a player aged 20 or under in a single season, per beIN Sports.
Tottenham and Barcelona Pursuit Hits a Wall
Kroupi's stunning season sparked a bidding war that never quite started. Tottenham were weighing offers in the £80-100 million range, according to To the Lane and Back. Barcelona were also in the picture, but a move would have required a minimum fee of around €100 million — a price Barça were not willing to pay.
Paris Saint-Germain were also mentioned as suitors. But Bournemouth held firm throughout. The club has repeatedly said Kroupi is not for sale at any price. The injury has now cooled transfer chatter significantly, giving Bournemouth breathing room heading into the new season.
Bournemouth Strengthens Squad Despite Kroupi Setback
Bournemouth moved quickly to add attacking cover. The club signed forward Álvaro Rodríguez as part of ongoing squad building under Rose. The addition signals that Bournemouth is not standing still while Kroupi recovers, though replacing 13 league goals is no small task.
Rose's side also enters the Europa League this season — another competition Kroupi will miss during his recovery window. The dual workload of Premier League and European football makes the absence even more costly for the Cherries in the opening months of the campaign.
France Over Portugal: Kroupi's International Ambitions Remain Clear
Away from club football, Kroupi has faced questions about which country he will represent internationally. In May, Portugal manager Roberto Martínez contacted Kroupi about playing for Portugal through his mother's eligibility. Kroupi turned that down. He has made clear he wants to represent France.
That decision adds another layer of intrigue to his long-term future. A fit and firing Kroupi pushing for a France call-up would only push his transfer value higher. For now, though, Bournemouth fans will simply be waiting for him to return to the pitch — injury-free — sometime in the autumn.
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