Ernest Poku is the latest young talent to join Bayer Leverkusen under new head coach Erik ten Hag.
The 21-year-old forward, who shone at the 2025 U21 European Championships, arrives from AZ Alkmaar with a growing reputation for pace, trickery, and goal-scoring instinct.
Profile
- Age: 21 (born 28 January 2004)
- Position: Forward / Right Winger
- Nationality: Netherlands (25 youth caps)
- Club: Bayer Leverkusen
- Height: 5’8″ (1.73m)
Early Career
Born in Hamburg to Ghanaian parents, Poku began his football journey at Amsterdam amateur club SV Robinhood before moving to FC Amsterdam’s academy. In 2019, he joined AZ Alkmaar’s youth setup and quickly progressed to their reserve team, making his Jong AZ debut in April 2021. Over two seasons, he scored 16 goals in 59 appearances for the U21s and played a pivotal role in AZ’s 2022/23 UEFA Youth League triumph, netting eight times, including twice in the final against Hajduk Split.
First-Team Breakthrough
Poku made his Eredivisie debut at just 17, followed days later by his first taste of European football in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against Celtic. His breakthrough came in the 2023/24 season, when he featured regularly and scored his first league goal in a 3-0 win over NEC Nijmegen. Despite a hip injury at the start of 2024/25, he returned to make 23 league appearances, finishing his AZ career with 79 games and six goals in all competitions.
International Stage
At the 2025 U21 Euros, Poku scored twice in five matches, including a decisive quarter-final strike against Portugal. He was the tournament’s fastest player, clocking a sprint speed of 22 mph (35.3 km/h).
Playing Style
Often compared to Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, Poku combines blistering pace, close control, and fearless dribbling. While typically a right winger, he is comfortable on either flank and thrives as an inside forward.
What They’re Saying
- “A brilliant winger who can give us something special with his pace and dribbling. He is tricky, assertive, and dynamic.” – Simon Rolfes, Bayer Leverkusen Sporting Director
- “It’s impressive how quickly he adapted to AZ’s level after coming from the amateurs.” – Paul Brandenburg, AZ Head of Youth Development
- “His rapid progress reflects his dedication to becoming a top athlete.” – Max Huibert, AZ Director of Football Affairs
