One to Watch: Eli Junior Kroupi (Lorient) | OneFootball

Lorient's youngest goalscorer is continuing to impressive in his breakthrough season in Ligue 1 Uber Eats

The son of former Lorient man and Coupe de France winner Elie Kroupi is making waves with Les Merlus this season. At 17-years-old, Kroupi was considered Lorient’s most promising youth prospect, he's been back in action lately for Régis Le Bris' side with a goal against Rennes last weekend (1-2).

Whilst the youngster started the season on the bench, he started to force his way into Régis Le Bris’ starting XI at the start of the season. Two assists and his first professional goal in September saw him come to prominence as one of the youngest talents to watch in Ligue 1 Uber Eats this season.

Meet Eli Junior Kroupi: Lorient's new star boy

"I grew up in Lorient, in a house in a district called Pont-Scorff. I have three sisters, two older ones aged 24 and a younger one aged 11," said Kroupi at the age of 15 in an Adidas marketing campaign featuring the best talent from the 2006 generation. "My father is a coach at a small district club, FC Folclo, and my mother is a care assistant at an old people's home.” With his bloodline and his local upbringing, he represents what it means to play for the Breton club.

"Junior's early arrival at the club, his personality and his family history have created the conditions for a very special relationship with Lorient,” said manager Régis Le Bris when the youngster signed a contract extension last summer. “He means a lot to the men and women who build the club's project every day. We are convinced that he will give himself the means to rise to the challenge of performing at the highest level.”

Junior Kroupi now has five goals in 20 appearances in Ligue 1, netting against Rennes in the 90th minute for his first goal in 12 games after being subbed on the pitch in the 82nd minute. It's not a bad return for Ligue 1's next big young star in the making in his breakthrough season with FC Lorient.