Eli Junior Kroupi set to stay at Bournemouth as injury blow knocks transfer interest | OneFootball

Frenchman had been linked with Arsenal and Tottenham before being forced to undergo surgery

Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi is facing up to four months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a fractured metatarsal, in a spanner to Arsenal and Tottenham’s transfer plans.

The young Frenchman made himself the envy of Europe last season as he enjoyed a superb debut Premier League campaign, netting 13 goals in 33 appearances.

His form has seen him garner transfer interest from a number of top European clubs, with Arsenal, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona among those said to be keen on a deal despite Bournemouth’s insistence he is not for sale.

Any prospect of a summer move, though, has been dashed by the news of his surgery.

Standard Sport understands the 20-year-old suffered a fractured metatarsal while training at Bournemouth’s pre-season camp in Austria before flying back to England.

Junior Kroupi has undergone surgery

Instagram/juniorkroupi22

He underwent surgery earlier this week and is now expected to be out for up to four months.

Sharing a photo from a hospital bed on Instagram, he wrote: “Thank you for all the messages. My family and I are truly touched. Surgery went well. Now fully focused on recovery. See you soon.”

Bournemouth sources insist Kroupi was not considered for sale at any point this summer, regardless of his injury.

Arsenal had weighed up a move for the Frenchman this summer as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking options. Morgan Rogers was also considered as a target before he was signed by Chelsea, while Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis has joined up.

Tottenham, meanwhile, were keen to bring the player in as they look to strengthen across the park, but are now expected to look at other targets.

Eli Junior Kroupi was widely linked with a move away from the Vitality Stadium this summer

Getty

Kroupi’s injury is, of course, a blow for Bournemouth as they head into the 2026/27 campaign under new management without last season’s top scorer. They have already brought in striker cover this summer in the form of Elche’s Alvaro Rodriguez.

The Cherries will play European football for the first time in club history this coming season after qualifying for the Europa League on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign.