Ernest Poku

Ernest Poku (born 28 January 2004) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He is a Dutch youth international.

Ernest Poku

Poku in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(2004-01-28) 28 January 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth	Hamburg, Germany
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Bayer Leverkusen
Number	19
Youth career
0000–2019	FC Amsterdam
2019–2021	AZ Alkmaar
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021	Jong AZ	54	(15)
2021–2025	AZ	50	(3)
2025–	Bayer Leverkusen	0	(0)
International career‡
2020	Netherlands U16	2	(0)
2022	Netherlands U19	6	(1)
2023–	Netherlands U21	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:18, 25 March 2025 (UTC)

Club career

He played as a youngster for FC Amsterdam prior to joining the youth academy at AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2019. He signed his first professional contract with AZ Alkmaar in February 2020, with the contract valid until mid-2023.^[2][3] On 30 April 2021, he made his debut for Jong AZ as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Roda JC.^[4][5] He trained with the club's first team during the pre-season for the 2021–22 season,^[6] and made his debut for AZ as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to RKC Waalwijk in the opening match of the season on 14 August 2021.^[7][4]

On 28 January 2022, after a contract extension, he was promoted from Jong AZ to the first team of AZ.^[8] He scored his first goal in the Eredivisie for AZ Alkmaar on 28 April 2024, the third goal in a 3-0 away against NEC Nijmegen.^[9] Hw made his debut in the UEFA Europa League in October 2024, appearing as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat away against Athletic Bilbao.^[10] He played in the final of the KNVB Cup as AZ lost to Go Ahead Eagles on penalties on 21 April 2025. The game had ended 1-1 in normal time after Go Ahead Eagles scored a 98th minute equaliser.^[11]

On 12 August 2025, German club Bayer Leverkusen announced the signing of Poku for a reported fee of €10 million with an additional €2 million in add-ons. He signed a five-year deal until June 2030.^[12][13]

International career

Born in Germany, Poku is of Ghanaian descent.^[14] He made two appearances for the Netherlands national under-16 team in 2020.^[15] In 2022 he was named in the Dutch U19 squad.^[16] He scored his first goal for the Dutch U19 side against Ukraine U19 in June 2022.^[17] He was later promoted into the Dutch U21 side.^[18]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 August 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong AZ	2020–21	Eerste Divisie	3	0	—		—		3	0
	2021–22	Eerste Divisie	22	2	—		—		22	2
	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	15	2	—		—		15	2
	2023–24	Eerste Divisie	14	11	—		—		14	11
	Total		54	15	—		—		54	15
AZ	2021–22	Eredivisie	4	0	0	0	2[b]	0	6	0
	2022–23	Eredivisie	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2023–24	Eredivisie	20	1	2	1	6[c]	0	28	2
	2024–25	Eredivisie	25	2	4	0	10[b]	0	39	2
	2025–26	Eredivisie	1	0	0	0	3[c]	1	4	1
	Total		50	3	6	1	21	1	77	5
Bayer Leverkusen	2025–26	Bundesliga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			104	18	6	1	21	1	131	20

1. Includes KNVB Cup, DFB-Pokal
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League