Djoully Nzoko

Djoully Nzoko
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-10-11) 11 October 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Finland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Jong Genk
Youth career
0000–2016 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 4 (0)
International career‡
2022–2023 Finland U16 10 (3)
2023–2024 Finland U17 14 (0)
2023– Finland U18 3 (2)
2024– Finland U19 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 November 2024

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.

Youth career

Nzoko 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

Inter Turku

On 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

On 6 September 2024, Nzoko signed with Challenger Pro League club Jong Genk on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[12][13][14] He debuted for his new team on 9 November in the Belgian second tier.

International career

Nzoko 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

Born 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

As of 15 December 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 4 0 0 0 – – 4 0
Career total 23 4 5 1 5 1 0 0 33 6
  1. ^ Includes Suomen Cup
  2. ^ Includes Finnish League Cup

Honours

Inter Turku

Finland U16

References

  1. ^ a b Superlupaus Djoully Nzoko, 16, on lapsesta asti tähdännyt ammattilaiseksi: ”Haluan olla paras jalkapalloilija Suomessa”, Yle, 16 August 2024
  2. ^ FC Inter solmi viisi uutta akatemiasopimusta, Veikkausliiga, 28 September 2021
  3. ^ FC INTER TEKI AKATEMIASOPIMUKSEN VIIDEN PELAAJAN KANSSA, fcinter.fi, 28 September 2021
  4. ^ HUIPPULUPAAVA DJOULLY NZOKO JATKAA INTERISSÄ PITKÄLLÄ SOPIMUKSELLA, fcinter.fi, 29 November 2023
  5. ^ Suurseurat kosiskelivat poikkeukselliseksi kutsuttua turkulaispelaajaa, mutta hän valitsi silti kotikaupungin Interin – miksi?, Turun Sanomat, Harri Ahola, 29 November 2023
  6. ^ Suomen 16-vuotias superlupaus haluttiin Englantiin ja Saksaan – järki voitti tunteen: "Tämä on parempi vaihtoehto", mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 6 April 2024
  7. ^ Interin Nzoko Veikkausliigasta: "Mielestäni valitsin paremman vaihtoehdon", veikkausliiga.com, 16 August 2024
  8. ^ EIF – FC Inter, Veikkausliiga
  9. ^ "Hyvät fiilikset ja ylpeä hetki" - Djoully Nzokolle Veikkausliigadebyytti Interissä vain 16-vuotiaana, veikkausliiga.com, 5 June 2024
  10. ^ 16-vuotias ihmepoika pommitti uskomattoman maalin Lahdessa – selostaja hölmistyi täysin: ”Mitä?”, Ilta-Sanomat, 7 June 2024
  11. ^ Otteluanalyysi: Inter myllytti sarjakolmosen kumoon, aamuset.fi, Aamuset, 28 June 2024
  12. ^ Djoully Nzoko siirtyy belgialaiseen KRC Genkiin, fcinter.fi, 6 September 2024
  13. ^ Interin superlupaus siirtyy Eurooppaan – perässä oli myös jättiseura, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 6 September 2024
  14. ^ Belgiassa kiinnostuttiin Interin teinitähdestä – turkulaisseura tavoittelee ainakin miljoonan euron siirtopottia neljässä vuodessa, Turun Sanomat, 4 September 2024
  15. ^ U16-pojat marssi Baltic Cupin mestaruuteen, Football Association of Finland/ Palloliitto, 2 July 2023
  16. ^ U17-pojat nimetty lokakuun EM-karsintaturnaukseen, Football Association of Finland/ Palloliitto, 4 October 2023
  17. ^ U17-pojat selvitti tiensä EM-jatkokarsintoihin, Football Association of Finland/ Palloliitto, 21 October 2023
  18. ^ U18-pojat nimetty Itävalta-otteluihin - Veikkausliigakokemusta mukana, Veikkausliiga, 31 October 2023
  19. ^ U19-pojat nimetty Romania-tuplamaaotteluun, Finnish FA, 28 August 2024
  20. ^ Liigacupin voitto ratkesi rangaistuspotkukisassa: 17-vuotiaasta maalivahdista sankari, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 30 March 2024