RB Leipzig setback as wonderkid Assan Ouedraogo ruled out until March with knee tendon injury

The 19-year-old attacker has been diagnosed with a tendon injury to his left knee, sustained earlier this month during Leipzig's 2-0 Bundesliga victory over Freiburg. Ouedraogo was forced off just after the hour mark in that match, replaced by Antonio Nusa, and subsequent medical examinations have now revealed the setback to be more serious than initially feared.

Leipzig say the injury will be managed conservatively rather than surgically, but the recovery timeline means Ouedraogo is expected to be sidelined until at least the end of March. As a result, he is set to miss a minimum of 10 matches, including nine Bundesliga fixtures and a domestic cup tie, ruling him out for a crucial phase of the season.

The timing is particularly cruel given the trajectory of Ouedraogo's breakthrough campaign. He has been one of Leipzig's standout performers in 2025, registering three goals and three assists in just 12 league appearances, and forcing his way into the senior Germany setup. The midfielder marked his international debut in November by scoring in a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, underlining his status as one of the country's most exciting emerging prospects.

However, the extended absence all but ends his chances of featuring in the March international break, denying him a further opportunity to impress ahead of Germany's long-term planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer admitted the news came as a heavy blow for the club, especially after Ouedraogo had recently worked his way back into regular contention.

"Assan's injury was a real shock for us," Schafer said. "His development this season has been extremely positive, and his debut for the national team was absolutely deserved and impressive. Naturally, we're keeping our fingers crossed that he returns to the pitch quickly and, above all, fully recovered. Assan knows that he has our full support during this difficult period."

For now, Leipzig must press on without one of their most dynamic young attackers, while Ouedraogo faces a frustrating spell on the sidelines at a moment when his career appeared to be accelerating rapidly.