Kevin Danso Explained

Kevin Danso
Birth Date:1998 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Voitsberg, Austria
Height:1.90 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Lens
Clubnumber:4
Youthclubs1:Reading
Youthyears2:–2014
Youthclubs2:Milton Keynes Dons
Youthyears3:2014–2016
Youthclubs3:FC Augsburg
Years1:2016–2018
Clubs1:FC Augsburg II
Caps1:5
Goals1:0
Years2:2017–2021
Clubs2:FC Augsburg
Caps2:41
Goals2:3
Years3:2019–2020
Clubs3:Southampton (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–2021
Clubs4:Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)
Caps4:32
Goals4:2
Years5:2021–
Clubs5:Lens
Caps5:101
Goals5:4
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:Austria U15
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalteam2:Austria U16
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2015
Nationalteam3:Austria U17
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2015–2016
Nationalteam4:Austria U18
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:3
Nationalyears5:2016
Nationalteam5:Austria U19
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:1
Nationalyears6:2018–2020
Nationalteam6:Austria U21
Nationalcaps6:20
Nationalgoals6:3
Nationalyears7:2017–
Nationalteam7:Austria
Nationalcaps7:23
Nationalgoals7:0
Club-Update:18 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:2 July 2024

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.

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] [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 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

[18]

Club!rowspan=2
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Augsburg II2015–16[19] Regionalliga Bayern202141
2017–18Regionalliga Bayern3030
Total502171
FC Augsburg2016–17Bundesliga700070
2017–18Bundesliga16200162
2018–19Bundesliga18130211
Total41330443
Southampton (loan)2019–20Premier League602020100
Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)2020–212. Bundesliga32210332
Lens2021–22Ligue 133230362
2022–23Ligue 137110381
2023–24Ligue 13011070381
2024–25Ligue 110000010
Total101450701134
Career total185911020702120710

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Austria201750
201810
202250
202350
202470
Total230

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: England scouts urged to check Augsburg whizkid Kevin Danso. tribalfootball.com.
  2. News: Danso ließ England-Karriere sausen . Bild.de . 7 March 2017 . 27 February 2018 .
  3. Web site: Jadon Sancho, Ademola Lookman: Why Premier League youngsters are choosing the Bundesliga . Sky Sports . 27 February 2018 . 27 February 2018 .
  4. Web site: Kevin Danso: Alli's friend, Batshuayi's foe, Augsburg's Austrian wonderkid . bundesliga.com . 26 July 2020 .
  5. Web site: Kevin Danso . football-wonderkids.co.uk . 6 March 2017.
  6. Web site: Frimpong . El Akyereko . Kevin Danso: Austria U17 coach says Ghanaian midfielder is irreplaceable in his squad . Ghanasoccernet . 9 May 2015 . 27 February 2018.
  7. News: Langner. Wolfgang. Kevin Danso ist nach seinem Debüt ein gefragter Mann. 24 May 2017. Augsburger Allgemeine. 4 March 2017. German.
  8. News: Baum über Danso: "Es ist eine Sensation". 24 May 2017. 24 May 2017. German.
  9. News: Yeboah. Thomas Freeman. Ghanaian youngster signs 4-year deal with Bundesliga side Augsburg. 24 May 2017. Pulse Ghana. 10 March 2017.
  10. Web site: Kevin Danso: Southampton sign defender on loan from Augsburg . BBC Sport . 9 August 2019 . 26 July 2020 .
  11. Web site: FCA verleiht Kevin Danso nach Düsseldorf. 19 August 2020. FC Augsburg. de.
  12. Web site: Fortuna leiht Innenverteidiger Kevin Danso aus. 19 August 2020. Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895. de.
  13. Web site: Fortuna Düsseldorf. SAISONAUSKLANG IM KREISE DER MANNSCHAFT. 24 May 2021. de.
  14. News: Kevin Danso, de la puissance en defense !. 6 August 2021. 6 August 2021. fr.
  15. Web site: Lens vs. Clermont. Soccerway. 19 March 2022.
  16. http://www.qatar-soccer.net/2017/03/07/england-scouts-keep-to-tabs-on-augsburg-youngster-kevin-danso/ England scouts keep to tabs on Augsburg youngster Kevin Danso
  17. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Youngster-Kevin-Danso-picks-Austria-over-Ghana-452594 Youngster Kevin Danso picks Austria over Ghana
  18. Web site: K. Danso . Soccerway . Perform Group . 27 February 2018.
  19. Web site: Kevin Danso – Player profile . dfb.de . Deutscher Fußball-Bund . 26 July 2020 .
  20. Web site: Messi, Rongier, Danso... L'équipe type de la saison de Ligue 1 . 2023-05-29 . L'Équipe . fr.