Kevin Danso

Last updated

Kevin Danso
Kevin Danso ASSE RCL 2425.jpg
Danso warming up for Lens in 2024
Personal information
Full name Kevin Danso [1]
Date of birth (1998-09-19) 19 September 1998 (age 28)
Place of birth Voitsberg, Austria
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Sunderland
(on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Number 4
Youth career
Reading
–2014 Milton Keynes Dons
2014–2016 FC Augsburg
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(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)
2021–2025 Lens 112 (4)
2025 → Tottenham Hotspur (loan) 10 (0)
2025– Tottenham Hotspur 24 (0)
2026– → Sunderland (loan) 5 (0)
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 39 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:02, 18 October 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 October 2026

Kevin Danso (born 19 September 1998) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Sunderland, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, and the Austria national team.

Contents

After playing in various English academies, Danso joined German club FC Augsburg in 2014 and made his first team debut in 2016. Following loans to Southampton and Fortuna Düsseldorf, Danso would join French Ligue 1 club RC Lens in 2021. In his second season at Lens, the club achieved their highest league finish in 21 years and Danso was named in the UNFP's Ligue 1 Team of the Season. Danso joined English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on loan in February 2025 where he won the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League, signing permanently for Tottenham 10 days following the final.

Danso made his debut for the Austria national team in 2017 after previously playing at youth level from under-15 to under-21, going on to represent Austria at UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Early life

Danso was born in Austria to Ghanaian parents before moving to Milton Keynes in England at the age of six. [2]

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, [3] [2] [4] [5] staying at the club until 2014 before moving to FC Augsburg in Germany. [6] [7]

FC Augsburg

On 3 March 2017, Danso made his Bundesliga debut for FC Augsburg at the age of 18 years and 165 days, becoming the youngest player to make a league appearance in the club's history. [8] [9] A week later, he signed a new four-year contract with the club. [10]

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. [11]

Fortuna Düsseldorf loan

On 18 August 2020 he went to Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan. [12] [13] He left Fortuna upon the expiration of his contract on 24 May 2021. [14]

Lens

On 6 August 2021, Danso joined Ligue 1 side RC Lens. [15] On 19 March 2022, he scored his first goal with Lens against Clermont. [16] During the 2022–23 season, he played a crucial role in helping his team secure second place in the league and qualify for the following season's Champions League. [17]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 2 February 2025, Danso joined Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the remainder of the season with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. [18] He made his first appearance for Spurs on 6 February in a 4–0 defeat away to Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final. [19] Danso was selected in the squad that played the 2025 UEFA Europa League final, entering the game as a substitute, and helping Tottenham to win their first trophy for seventeen years. [20]

On 31 May 2025, Danso joined Tottenham Hotspur permanently from Lens for £21 million. [21] [22]

Danso started in the 2025 UEFA Super Cup, playing the full match against PSG as Tottenham lost on penalties after the match ended 2–2. [23] Danso was used as a long throw-in specialist in the match, drawing significant media attention. [24] [25] [26] As Tottenham spent the second half of the 2025-26 season in a relegation battle which came down to the final matchday, Danso became a crucial part of the team during the run-in following a season ending injury to Cristian Romero. Danso started Tottenham's last 6 matches, winning 11 points to keep the club in the Premier League. [27]

Danso scored his first and only goal for Tottenham on the 26th August in a 5-1 victory against Charlton Athletic in the 2nd Round of the EFL Cup. [28] Shortly afterwards, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed to the media that Danso had requested to leave the club, attributed to Spurs' reduced schedule without European football along with summer centre back signings Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke. [29]

Sunderland loan

On 1 September 2026, Danso joined fellow Premier League club Sunderland on loan on a season-long loan. [30] On 5 September, Danso made his debut for Sunderland in a 1-1 draw away to Brentford. [31]

International career

Danso with Austria U21 in 2019 Austria national under-21 football team - Teamcamp October 2019 (35).jpg
Danso with Austria U21 in 2019

Danso was eligible to represent Ghana or Austria internationally. [32] [33] 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. [9] In June 2024, he was named in the Austrian squad for UEFA Euro 2024. [34] In the group stage, Danso started in Austria's 1–0 defeat to France [35] and made a substitute appearance in their 3–1 win over Poland [36] , progressing to the knockouts. In the knockout round, Danso would start in Austria's 2-1 Round of 16 defeat against Turkey [37]

In October 2025, he was part of “Austrian football history” as he played the entire match in a 10–0 victory over San Marino, Austria's biggest win in international football. [38]

On 18 May 2026, Danso was selected in Ralf Rangnick’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking Austria’s first appearance in the tournament since 1998. [39] In the group stage, Danso would start against Argentina, [40] and made substitute appearances against Algeria [41] and Jordan [42] , qualifying for the knockouts. In the knockout round, Danso would start in Austria's 3-0 Round of 32 defeat to Spain. [43]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 October 2026 [44]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Augsburg II 2015–16 [45] Regionalliga Bayern 20———2 [c] 141
2017–18 [45] Regionalliga Bayern30————30
Total50———2171
FC Augsburg 2016–17 [45] Bundesliga 7000———70
2017–18 [45] Bundesliga16200———162
2018–19 [45] Bundesliga18130———211
Total41330———443
Southampton (loan) 2019–20 [46] Premier League 602020——100
Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 2020–21 [45] 2. Bundesliga 32210———332
Lens 2021–22 Ligue 1 33230———362
2022–23 Ligue 137110———381
2023–24 Ligue 130110—7 [d] 0—381
2024–25 Ligue 112010—1 [e] 0—140
Total112460—80—1264
Tottenham Hotspur (loan) 2024–25 [47] Premier League10010103 [e] 0—150
Tottenham Hotspur 2025–26 [27] Premier League24010207 [f] 01 [g] 0350
2026–27 [48] Premier League00—11——11
Total340204110010511
Sunderland (loan) 2026–27 [48] Premier League5000002 [e] 0—70
Career total2359140612003127811
  1. ↑ Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup, Coupe de France
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in Regionalliga relegation play-offs
  4. ↑ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  5. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  6. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  7. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Super Cup

International

As of match played 4 October 2026 [49]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Austria 201750
201810
202250
202350
202480
202560
202690
Total390

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "2024/25 Updated Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 "England scouts urged to check Augsburg whizkid Kevin Danso". tribalfootball.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Danso ließ England-Karriere sausen". Bild. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Jadon Sancho, Ademola Lookman: Why Premier League youngsters are choosing the Bundesliga". Sky Sports. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Kevin Danso: Alli's friend, Batshuayi's foe, Augsburg's Austrian wonderkid". bundesliga.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Kevin Danso". football-wonderkids.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  7. ↑ Frimpong, El Akyereko (9 May 2015). "Kevin Danso: Austria U17 coach says Ghanaian midfielder is irreplaceable in his squad". Ghanasoccernet. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Langner, Wolfgang (4 March 2017). "Kevin Danso ist nach seinem Debüt ein gefragter Mann". Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Baum über Danso: "Es ist eine Sensation"" (in German). 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Yeboah, Thomas Freeman (10 March 2017). "Ghanaian youngster signs 4-year deal with Bundesliga side Augsburg". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Kevin Danso: Southampton sign defender on loan from Augsburg". BBC Sport. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "FCA verleiht Kevin Danso nach Düsseldorf". FC Augsburg (in German). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Fortuna leiht Innenverteidiger Kevin Danso aus". Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895 (in German). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "SAISONAUSKLANG IM KREISE DER MANNSCHAFT" (in German). Fortuna Düsseldorf. 24 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Kevin Danso, de la puissance en defense !" (in French). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "Lens vs. Clermont". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Riley, Martha (17 June 2024). "Kevin Danso had tough time at Southampton but Rio Ferdinand has tipped Austria Euro 2024 star for Manchester United rebuild". talkSPORT.
  18. ↑ "Tottenham sign Kevin Danso from Lens to boost injury hit squad". ESPN. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  19. ↑ Anderson, Jess (6 February 2025). "Liverpool 4 Tottenham Hotspur 0". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  20. ↑ Stone, Simon (21 May 2025). "UEFA Europa League Final: Tottenham 1–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  21. ↑ "Player update – Tottenham Hotspur". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 31 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  22. ↑ Brotherton, Alex (31 May 2025). "Spurs complete £21m Kevin Danso signing from Lens – BBC Sport". bbc.co.uk/sport/. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  23. ↑ "PSG vs Tottenham LIVE: European Champions beat Spurs on penalties to win Super Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  24. ↑ Tweedale, Ali (23 August 2025). "Are Long Throw-ins Back in the Premier League?". Opta Analyst. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  25. ↑ Allnutt, Tom (22 August 2025). "Tottenham's new long-throw specialist who grew up idolising Jackie Chan". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "Kevin Danso on long throw-ins and battling with Haaland: exclusive interview – all the latest news today – 112.ua". 112.ua. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Danso in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Savio scores on debut as Spurs bounce back to beat Charlton". BBC Sport. 26 August 2026. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  29. ↑ Harris, Jay (29 August 2026). "Roberto De Zerbi says Richarlison, Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr have asked to leave Tottenham". The Athletic . Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  30. ↑ "Kevin Danso joins Sunderland AFC on loan". Sunderland Association Football Club. 1 September 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  31. ↑ "Brentford 1-1 Sunderland: Enzo le Fee's late penalty rescues point for Black Cats". BBC Sport. 5 September 2026. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  32. ↑ "England handlers to swoop for Augsburg's Ghanaian whizkid Kevin Danso". GhanaSoccernet. 8 March 2017.
  33. ↑ "Youngster Kevin Danso picks Austria over Ghana". GhanaWeb. Ghana Web. 4 July 2016.
  34. ↑ "Nationalteam-Kader für UEFA EURO 2024 fixiert" [Final national team squad for UEFA EURO 2024] (in German). Austrian Football Association. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  35. ↑ "History: Austria 0-1 France UEFA EURO 2024". UEFA. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  36. ↑ "History: History: Poland 1-3 Austria UEFA EURO 2024". UEFA. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "History: Austria 1-2 Türki̇ye UEFA EURO 2024". UEFA. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  38. ↑ "Danso assist in Austria's record win". Tottenham Hotspur. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  39. ↑ "Alaba, Arnautovic feature as Austria name World Cup squad". 18 May 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  40. ↑ "Argentina v Austria 2-0 Result, Stats & Highlights First Stage FIFA World Cup 2026™". FIFA. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  41. ↑ "Algeria v Austria 3-3 Result, Stats & Highlights First Stage FIFA World Cup 2026™". FIFA. 28 June 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  42. ↑ "Austria v Jordan 3-1 Result, Stats & Highlights First Stage FIFA World Cup 2026™". FIFA. 17 June 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "Spain v Austria 3-0 Result, Stats & Highlights First Stage FIFA World Cup 2026™". FIFA. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "K. Danso". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kevin Danso – Player profile". dfb.de. Deutscher Fußball-Bund. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Danso in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Danso in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  48. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Danso in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "Danso, Kevin". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  50. ↑ "Tottenham vs Man Utd | UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Final". UEFA. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  51. ↑ "Messi, Rongier, Danso... L'équipe type de la saison de Ligue 1" (in French). L'Équipe. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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