Niels Nkounkou Joins Torino FC on Loan: A New Chapter in Serie A

French left-back Niels Nkounkou is set to embark on another European adventure, this time in Italy’s Serie A with Torino FC. The 24-year-old defender has been loaned from Eintracht Frankfurt until June, with an option to buy and a sell-on clause included in the deal. This move marks the latest step in a career that has already seen Nkounkou ply his trade in some of Europe’s most competitive leagues.

A Career on the Move

Nkounkou’s journey through European football reads like a scout’s notebook. Having already experienced the Premier League, Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League, France’s Ligue 2, and the German Bundesliga, the versatile defender now adds Serie A to his resume. His loan move to Torino represents not just a change of scenery, but a critical opportunity to reignite a career that had begun to stall at Frankfurt.

Arriving at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023, Nkounkou initially made a strong impression. Deployed primarily as a left wing-back, he enjoyed a productive first season, making 40 appearances across all competitions while contributing three goals and three assists. His energy, pace, and willingness to join the attack made him a valuable asset in Frankfurt’s system.

From Key Player to Peripheral Figure

So what changed? Why did a player who seemed to be settling so well suddenly find himself out of favor?

The 2023–24 season told a different story for Nkounkou. Despite Frankfurt’s strong start to the Bundesliga campaign—winning their opening two matches—the Frenchman was conspicuously absent from the matchday squads. He managed just 12 league appearances, totaling a meager 378 minutes of action. Even in the UEFA Europa League, opportunities were limited to just eight outings.

It became clear that Nkounkou did not feature in the plans of head coach Dino Toppmöller. With the emergence of other options and a shift in tactical approach, the former Marseille man found himself on the outside looking in. A loan move began to look increasingly inevitable.

The Road to Torino: Nkounkou’s Footballing Journey

Niels Nkounkou’s path to professional football began in the youth systems of French clubs Brest and Marseille. His talent was evident early on, and it wasn’t long before English Premier League side Everton came calling. Though he managed only seven senior appearances for the Toffees, the experience proved invaluable.

Loan spells followed—first at Cardiff City in the EFL Championship, where he made 18 appearances, and later at Saint-Étienne in Ligue 2. It was in Saint-Étienne that Nkounkou truly began to flourish, registering six goals and eight assists in just 21 matches. His ability to influence games in the final third caught the eye of several clubs, eventually leading to a move to Standard Liège in Belgium.

His 25 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League further demonstrated his adaptability and readiness for top-flight football—a promise that initially seemed fulfilled upon his transfer to Frankfurt.

What Nkounkou Brings to Torino

Torino FC will be hoping Nkounkou can rediscover the form he showed during his stint at Saint-Étienne and his first season in Frankfurt. The Piedmont-based club has endured a sluggish start to the Serie A season, picking up just one point from their opening two matches and managing only one victory during preseason.

Nkounkou’s arrival adds depth and competition at left-back, where he will vie for minutes with the experienced Cristiano Biraghi, who is 33. Although Biraghi brings leadership and Serie A know-how, Nkounkou offers athleticism, directness, and a modern interpretation of the full-back role.

It is worth noting, however, that Nkounkou is arguably more comfortable operating as a wing-back or attacking full-back rather than a traditional defensive left-back. His best performances have come in systems that encourage him to push forward, overlap, and contribute in the final third.

A Familiar Path: Following in Malonga’s Footsteps

Nkounkou is not the first French-born player of Congolese descent to represent Torino. He follows in the footsteps of Dominique Malonga, who spent time at the club earlier in his career. For Torino supporters, the hope is that Nkounkou can make a more lasting impact.

His loan deal includes an option to buy, as well as a sell-on clause for Frankfurt—a structure that benefits all parties. Torino gets a low-risk look at a player with clear upside, Frankfurt secures either a future fee or a percentage of a future sale, and Nkounkou gets the minutes he needs to continue his development.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

Serie A is known for its tactical rigor and defensive discipline. For a player like Nkounkou, whose game is built on dynamism and offensive contribution, adapting to Italian football will require patience and coaching. He will need to improve his defensive positioning and decision-making without sacrificing the attributes that make him dangerous going forward.

If he can strike that balance, Torino may have found themselves a gem. At 24, Nkounkou is entering what should be the prime years of his career. A successful season in Italy could catapult him back into the conversation among Ligue 1 or Bundesliga clubs—or even earn him a permanent stay in Turin.

For now, all eyes will be on how quickly he can adapt to his new surroundings, win the trust of manager Ivan Jurić, and help steer Torino toward a more successful league campaign.

One thing is certain: Niels Nkounkou’s career has been defined by movement and reinvention. This latest chapter in Serie A may just be his most important yet.