'I sat there brooding' - Youssoufa Moukoko says he's felt life 'at the top and bottom' as ex-Borussia Dortmund wonderkid opens up on struggles ahead of shock move to Copenhagen

The striker recently completed a transfer to Copenhagen, surprising many fans due to the buzz that surrounded him throughout his time in the Dortmund youth system. He made his debut for the German side the day after his 16th birthday to become the youngest in the league's history. A few weeks later, he broke the record for the youngest ever to play in a Champions League game. Despite scoring five goals in 20 Bundesliga appearances - four starts - in 2023-24, the club opted to send him out on loan last season.

The 20-year-old spent the campaign at Nice, but started just two of his 11 appearances in Ligue 1 and did not feature for the team after a Coupe de France game in early February. A player once tipped to reach great heights, Moukoko says he has gone through many highs and lows as he opened up on his trying time.

Moukoko told Danish broadcaster TV2: "I've experienced what it's like to be at the top. I've also experienced what it's like to be at the bottom."

Asked about his time on loan at Nice, he said: "It was really tough. There were nights when I just lay awake thinking about it, I have to be honest. But it taught me to be humble, to keep my feet on the ground and not to be arrogant.

"I think it made sense for me to go through that. There were a lot of critical stories about me. In Nice, they wrote that I was out of shape. But I trained harder than ever before. I trained three times a day on my own and discovered a new motivation within myself.

"I don't care what people say or write about me. Whatever it is, I just laugh about it. I trust myself and my body. I feel that I really want to play again."

With his €5 million transfer finalised and a contract secured until 2030, Moukoko is poised for his new chapter in Denmark. He is expected to make his debut on 18 July, when Copenhagen travel to Viborg for their league opener, marking the beginning of his quest for a new start and consistent playing time.