Kevin Danso

Kevin Danso (born 19 September 1998) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Lens and the Austria national team.

Kevin Danso
Danso with Lens in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-09-19) 19 September 1998
Place of birth Voitsberg, Austria
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Lens
Number 4
Youth career
0000 Reading
0000–2014 Milton Keynes Dons
2014–2016 FC Augsburg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 FC Augsburg II 5 (0)
2017–2021 FC Augsburg 41 (3)
2019–2020 → Southampton (loan) 6 (0)
2020–2021 → Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 32 (2)
2021– Lens 79 (3)
International career‡
2013 Austria U15 2 (2)
2013 Austria U16 4 (0)
2015 Austria U17 7 (2)
2015–2016 Austria U18 7 (3)
2016 Austria U19 3 (1)
2018–2020 Austria U21 20 (3)
2017– Austria 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 September 2023

Formerly a youth international at various levels from under-15 to under-21, Danso made his debut for the Austria senior team in 2017.

Early life

Danso was born in Austria to Ghanaian parents before moving to Milton Keynes in England at the age of six.[1]

Club career

Early years

Danso joined the academy of Milton Keynes Dons at under 9 level having previously been a striker in the Reading academy,[2][1][3][4] staying at the club until 2014 before moving to FC Augsburg in Germany.[5][6]

FC Augsburg

On 3 March 2017, Danso made his Bundesliga debut for FC Augsburg at the age of 18 years and 165 days old, becoming the youngest player to make a league appearance in the club's history.[7][8] A week later, he signed a new four-year contract with the club.[9]

Southampton loan

On 9 August 2019, the day after the Premier League transfer window closed, it was announced that Danso signed for Southampton on a one-year loan, with the option to buy at the end of the 2019–20 season.[10]

Fortuna Düsseldorf loan

On 18 August 2020 he went to Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan.[11][12] He left Fortuna upon the expiration of his contract on 24 May 2021.[13]

Lens

On 6 August 2021, Danso joined Ligue 1 side RC Lens.[14] On 19 March 2022, he scored his first goal with Lens against Clermont.[15]

International career
Danso with Austria U21 in 2019

Danso was eligible to represent Ghana, or Austria internationally.[16][17] He represented Austria's U15, U16, U17, Austria U18, and U19 youth teams.

In May 2017, he received his first call-up to the senior national team.[8]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 25 October 2023[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Augsburg II 2015–16[19] Regionalliga Bayern 20———2[lower-alpha 1]141
2017–18[19] Regionalliga Bayern 30————30
Total 50———2171
FC Augsburg 2016–17[19] Bundesliga 7000———70
2017–18[19] Bundesliga 16200———162
2018–19[19] Bundesliga 18130———211
Total 41330———443
Southampton (loan) 2019–20[20] Premier League 602020——100
Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 2020–21[19] 2. Bundesliga 32210———332
Lens 2021–22 Ligue 1 33230———362
2022–23 Ligue 1 37110———381
2023–24 Ligue 1 9000—2[lower-alpha 2]0—110
Total 79340—20—853
Career total 16381002020211799
  1. Appearances in Regionalliga relegation play-offs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International
As of match played 7 September 2023[21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Austria 201750
201810
202250
202330
Total140

Honours

Individual

References
  1. England scouts urged to check Augsburg whizkid Kevin Danso
  2. "Danso ließ England-Karriere sausen". Bild.de. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  3. "Jadon Sancho, Ademola Lookman: Why Premier League youngsters are choosing the Bundesliga". Sky Sports. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. "Kevin Danso: Alli's friend, Batshuayi's foe, Augsburg's Austrian wonderkid". bundesliga.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. "Kevin Danso". football-wonderkids.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  6. Frimpong, El Akyereko (9 May 2015). "Kevin Danso: Austria U17 coach says Ghanaian midfielder is irreplaceable in his squad". Ghanasoccernet. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  7. Langner, Wolfgang (4 March 2017). "Kevin Danso ist nach seinem Debüt ein gefragter Mann". Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  8. "Baum über Danso: "Es ist eine Sensation"" (in German). 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  9. Yeboah, Thomas Freeman (10 March 2017). "Ghanaian youngster signs 4-year deal with Bundesliga side Augsburg". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  10. "Kevin Danso: Southampton sign defender on loan from Augsburg". BBC Sport. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  11. "FCA verleiht Kevin Danso nach Düsseldorf". FC Augsburg (in German). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  12. "Fortuna leiht Innenverteidiger Kevin Danso aus". Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895 (in German). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. "SAISONAUSKLANG IM KREISE DER MANNSCHAFT" (in German). Fortuna Düsseldorf. 24 May 2021.
  14. "Kevin Danso, de la puissance en defense !" (in French). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  15. "Lens vs. Clermont". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  16. England scouts keep to tabs on Augsburg youngster Kevin Danso
  17. Youngster Kevin Danso picks Austria over Ghana
  18. "K. Danso". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  19. "Kevin Danso – Player profile". dfb.de. Deutscher Fußball-Bund. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  20. "Games played by Kevin Danso in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  21. "Danso, Kevin". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  22. "Messi, Rongier, Danso... L'équipe type de la saison de Ligue 1". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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