VfL Bochum have confirmed that promising winger Owono-Darnell Keumo has signed his first professional contract with the club, marking a significant milestone in the teenager’s budding football career.
The 17-year-old, who has been part of Bochum’s academy setup since the under-13 level, will officially join the senior squad at the start of the 2025/26 season.
The contract will come into full effect once he turns 18. Regarded as one of the brightest prospects in German football, Keumo has impressed both at club level and with Germany’s national youth teams.
Last season, the left-footed attacker was a standout performer for Bochum’s U19 side under the guidance of coach David Siebers.
He made 23 appearances in the DFB National Youth League, scoring five goals and contributing an assist.
His campaign concluded on a high as he helped his team clinch the Westphalian Cup, underlining his influence and maturity on the pitch.
Keumo’s form has not gone unnoticed at national level either. After making his debut with Germany’s U16s in 2022, he has since become a fixture in the U18 squad.
There, he shares the pitch with fellow Bochum talents Kacper Koscierski and Luis Pick, both of whom are also set to step up to the first team next season.
VfL Bochum sporting director Dirk Dufner expressed the club’s delight at securing the youngster’s future.
“Darnell has all the qualities to reach the top with us. We are delighted that he has chosen to continue his development here,” he said.
Head coach David Siebers echoed those sentiments, praising Keumo’s rapid progression over the past year.
“Darnell is one of the best wingers in Germany in his category. He has improved enormously, particularly in his explosiveness and offensive initiative,” he noted.
Schon seit der U13 erfolgreich für unser Talentwerk im Einsatz!🙌 Wir freuen uns auf den weiteren gemeinsamen Weg mit Owono-Darnell Keumo!😎
Alle Infos zu #TachDarnell: https://t.co/bmP4AOReXq pic.twitter.com/fAjPSkJyYz
— VfL Bochum 1848 (@VfLBochum1848eV) June 23, 2025
Keumo himself was visibly moved after putting pen to paper. “I am very happy and proud to sign my first professional contract here. It’s a dream come true. I will continue to give my all to achieve my goals with VfL,” he told club media.
With a strong foundation built on discipline, flair, and determination, Owono-Darnell Keumo now looks set to take the next step in his football journey — this time on the Bundesliga stage.
