On deadline day, AFC Bournemouth completed the signing of Eli Junior Kroupi and sent him back on loan to FC Lorient until the end of this season.
On Thursday, the 18-year-old’s mother, Sandrine, stated the Cherries presented him a ‘great’ sporting project which convinced him to move.
Ouest-France have had a chat with the new Bournemouth signing, who has explained why he decided to join them.
Eli Junior Kroupi graduated from the French club’s academy and made his way into their first team in 2023. The youngster’s mother said he’s “loved” the Premier League for a long time.
The attacker backed that up and reiterated he was attracted to Bournemouth and English football after playing a friendly against the Cherries in 2023.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve had a dream, which is to play in the Premier League. When we played a friendly match at Bournemouth [summer 2023], I really appreciated the English atmosphere, the rhythm. The club, too, I found very beautiful,” he said.
The France U19 international claims Bournemouth’s project convinced him, and he only accepted to join them after his key condition was accepted.
“And there was a project that was put in place, which is to be able to develop myself physically, even in the game, and tactically over 2-3 years. That’s really what I liked,” Eli Junior Kroupi explained.
“But if I had to sign for a club this winter, I really wanted to stay on loan until the end of the season at Lorient, otherwise, I didn’t see the point in leaving straight away.”
Lorient are leading the Ligue 2 table, and the Frenchman wants to help them return to the top division before moving to Bournemouth.
Ouest-France explain the teenager ‘can’t wait to rub shoulders’ Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk and Manchester City star Erling Haaland. However, they haven’t relayed his comments on this subject.
