Can 2025/26 become Can Uzun’s Breakout Season?

In this short series we will be looking at our upcoming breakout stars, and discussing the role they could have in our squad next season. Up first is Can Uzun, who has already shown glimpses of magic in his first season of top-flight football aged just 19.

ALL EYES ON UZUN

Can Uzun has been in the spotlight from day one, whether he’s been on the pitch or not. When Uzun joined from 1. FC Nürnberg having scored 16 goals in the 2. Bundesliga, the ‘hype’ was real and the expectations equally high — that’s why many were disappointed by the lack of playing time given to Uzun in his first year at Eintracht Frankfurt. Markus Krösche on the other hand, was satisfied with his progress and claimed Uzun had played a "very good season". Our sporting director explained how the club implements a three-year-plan for every young player they sign: "Arrive and adapt in the first year, break into the first team and start performing more regularly in the second, and reach your peak in the third." It is often the second and third year in which young players have shown their true potential in recent years, and often they have gone on to ‘outgrow’ the club and leave for a large transfer fee.

TIME TO STEP UP

According to this three-year-plan, Uzun‘s development has gone according to plan. He has shown moments of brilliance, such as against Ferencvaros in the Europa League, but he has struggled to consistently earn a place in the starting lineup.

FIRST UEL GOAL VS FERENCVAROS

49’ Can Uzun scores a 25-yard screamer in the Europa League group phase to give Frankfurt the lead against Hungarian Champions Ferencvaros.

With his second season approaching, the time is now to step up and reach the next level. Uzun definitely has the required abilities, he’s shown these already, but Toppmöller’s high intensity pressing and counter attacking style of play often didn’t fit his strengths and overall player profile. With Marmoush already gone and Ekitike likely to follow, Toppmöller may also need to adapt and implement a less direct style of play. This could help Uzun to get into the situations he loves most; finding tight spaces, playing short passes, making progressive dribbles into the box and finding the finish. He definitely has the potential to be a game-changer in the upcoming season.