Djoully Nzoko (born 11 October 2007) is a Finnish professional football player who plays as a winger for Challenger Pro League club Jong Genk. He started his professional senior career with Inter Turku in 2024 aged 16.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 October 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Finland | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Jong Genk | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | TPS | ||
| 2017–2023 | Inter Turku | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Inter Turku II | 7 | (0) |
| 2024 | Inter Turku | 12 | (4) |
| 2024– | Jong Genk | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022–2023 | Finland U16 | 10 | (3) |
| 2023– | Finland U17 | 14 | (0) |
| 2023– | Finland U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Finland U19 | 5 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 October 2024 | |||
Youth career
editNzoko grew up in Vaala neighbourhood of Turku, where he played street football with his friends. He joined a youth team of Turun Palloseura (TPS) at the age of seven and played in the youth sector of Inter Turku since he was nine years old.[1] On 28 September 2021, he was among the five youth players to sign an academy contract with Inter.[2][3] During the 2023 season, Nzoko played for the Inter under-17 team in the U17 second-tier league.
Club career
editInter Turku
editOn 29 November 2023, at the age of 16, Nzoko signed his first professional contract with Inter Turku, on a three-year deal.[4][5][6] He had made his senior debut with the club's reserve team in the fourth-tier Kolmonen earlier in 2022. Nzoko had attracted interest from high-profile foreign clubs, but he chose to stay in Inter and start a senior career in Veikkausliiga rather than joining a youth academy team abroad.[7] Nzoko scored his first senior goal for Inter Turku first team on 11 February 2024, in a 3–1 win against Ekenäs IF (EIF) in Finnish League Cup.[8] The team went on to win the league cup title, after beating Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in the final on penalties.
Nzoko missed the start of the 2024 season due to a minor injury, but eventually made his debut in Veikkausliiga on 31 May 2024 when aged 16, in a 3–1 home win against Haka.[9] One week later, he scored his first Veikkausliiga goal on 7 June 2024, in a 2–0 away win against FC Lahti.[10][11] During the 2024 season, he made 22 appearances and scored six goals for Inter in all competitions combined, prior to his departure in the early September.
Genk
editOn 6 September 2024, Nzoko signed with Challenger Pro League club Jong Genk on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee,[12][13] rumoured to be around €1 million.[14]
International career
editNzoko has been a regular in the youth national teams, having represented Finland at under-16, under-17 and under-18 age levels.
Nzoko was part of Finland U16 squad that won the friendly tournament Baltic Cup in July 2023,[15] scoring three goals in three matches.
On 4 October 2023, Nzoko was named in the Finland U17 squad in the 2024 UEFA U17 Euro Championship qualification tournament. In the tournament Finland drew with Ukraine and Germany 2–2 and 1–1, respectively, before winning Liechtenstein 3–0, placing 2nd in the group and advancing to the Elite round.[16][17]
On 31 October 2023, Nzoko was named in the Finland U18 squad for two friendly matches against Austria U18.[18]
In the late August 2024, Nzoko received his first call-up to the Finland U19 national team, for two friendly matches against Romania, as a preparation for the upcoming 2025 UEFA U19 Euro Championship qualifiers.[19]
Personal life
editBorn and raised in Finland, Nzoko is of Congolese descent. His cousin Elohim Nzoko is also a footballer for Inter Turku U19 team.
Nzoko has named Timo Furuholm and Neymar his idols in football.[1]
Career statistics
edit- As of 9 November 2024.
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Inter Turku II | 2022 | Kolmonen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | Kolmonen | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024 | Kakkonen | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Inter Turku | 2024 | Veikkausliiga | 12 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | – | 22 | 6 | |
| Jong Genk | 2024–25 | Challenger Pro League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 20 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 6 | ||
- ^ Includes Suomen Cup
- ^ Includes Finnish League Cup
Honours
editInter Turku
- Finnish League Cup: 2024[20]
Finland U16
- Baltic Cup: 2023
References
edit- ^ a b Superlupaus Djoully Nzoko, 16, on lapsesta asti tähdännyt ammattilaiseksi: ”Haluan olla paras jalkapalloilija Suomessa”, Yle, 16 August 2024
- ^ FC Inter solmi viisi uutta akatemiasopimusta, Veikkausliiga, 28 September 2021
- ^ FC INTER TEKI AKATEMIASOPIMUKSEN VIIDEN PELAAJAN KANSSA, fcinter.fi, 28 September 2021
- ^ HUIPPULUPAAVA DJOULLY NZOKO JATKAA INTERISSÄ PITKÄLLÄ SOPIMUKSELLA, fcinter.fi, 29 November 2023
- ^ Suurseurat kosiskelivat poikkeukselliseksi kutsuttua turkulaispelaajaa, mutta hän valitsi silti kotikaupungin Interin – miksi?, Turun Sanomat, Harri Ahola, 29 November 2023
- ^ Suomen 16-vuotias superlupaus haluttiin Englantiin ja Saksaan – järki voitti tunteen: "Tämä on parempi vaihtoehto", mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 6 April 2024
- ^ Interin Nzoko Veikkausliigasta: "Mielestäni valitsin paremman vaihtoehdon", veikkausliiga.com, 16 August 2024
- ^ EIF – FC Inter, Veikkausliiga
- ^ "Hyvät fiilikset ja ylpeä hetki" - Djoully Nzokolle Veikkausliigadebyytti Interissä vain 16-vuotiaana, veikkausliiga.com, 5 June 2024
- ^ 16-vuotias ihmepoika pommitti uskomattoman maalin Lahdessa – selostaja hölmistyi täysin: ”Mitä?”, Ilta-Sanomat, 7 June 2024
- ^ Otteluanalyysi: Inter myllytti sarjakolmosen kumoon, aamuset.fi, Aamuset, 28 June 2024
- ^ Djoully Nzoko siirtyy belgialaiseen KRC Genkiin, fcinter.fi, 6 September 2024
- ^ Interin superlupaus siirtyy Eurooppaan – perässä oli myös jättiseura, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 6 September 2024
- ^ Belgiassa kiinnostuttiin Interin teinitähdestä – turkulaisseura tavoittelee ainakin miljoonan euron siirtopottia neljässä vuodessa, Turun Sanomat, 4 September 2024
- ^ U16-pojat marssi Baltic Cupin mestaruuteen, Football Association of Finland/ Palloliitto, 2 July 2023
- ^ U17-pojat nimetty lokakuun EM-karsintaturnaukseen, Football Association of Finland/ Palloliitto, 4 October 2023
- ^ U17-pojat selvitti tiensä EM-jatkokarsintoihin, Football Association of Finland/ Palloliitto, 21 October 2023
- ^ U18-pojat nimetty Itävalta-otteluihin - Veikkausliigakokemusta mukana, Veikkausliiga, 31 October 2023
- ^ U19-pojat nimetty Romania-tuplamaaotteluun, Finnish FA, 28 August 2024
- ^ Liigacupin voitto ratkesi rangaistuspotkukisassa: 17-vuotiaasta maalivahdista sankari, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 30 March 2024
External links
edit- Djoully Nzoko at Soccerway
- Djoully Nzoko at WorldFootball.net
- Djoully Nzoko stats at Football Association of Finland