The soccer world watches in awe as Serhou Guirassy continues his ascent as one of Europe’s deadliest strikers. At 28, the Borussia Dortmund forward sits near the top of the Champions League scoring charts with 10 goals, tied for second place behind Barcelona’s Raphina. This meteoric rise represents an unusual path to stardom for a player whose career remained modest until just two years ago.
Many experts point to his current form as proof that late bloomers exist in soccer. Canadian bettors frequently overlooked Guirassy on their betting slips until his recent scoring explosion forced them to take notice of his remarkable consistency in front of the goal. Now, they’ll be sure to include him while taking advantage of great betting odds and bonuses.
The Early struggles
Guirassy started his professional journey at Laval in France, where he scored six goals in 29 matches during the 2014-15 Ligue 2 campaign. This performance earned him a move to Lille for approximately €1 million.
His Lille stint proved disappointing. Under manager Herve Renard, who departed in November of his first season, Guirassy earned just three league starts before a loan to Auxerre. The second-division club saw better results from the young striker, who netted eight goals in 16 appearances.
Despite interest from Arsenal, his next destination became Cologne in Germany. The transfer hit complications when medical concerns prompted a renegotiation, eventually settling at about €4 million. His time in Cologne saw minimal impact due to injuries; he missed 41 games through various ailments, scoring only four Bundesliga goals across two seasons before the club suffered relegation.
The French return and second chance
After an unsuccessful stint in the German second tier, Guirassy went back to France with Amiens, initially on loan before a permanent €5 million transfer. Though his individual performances improved, Amiens ultimately faced relegation.
Interest from Premier League sides mounted during this period. West Ham, Aston Villa, Leicester, Bournemouth, Brighton, and Tottenham all reportedly scouted him. Most notably, according to Amiens sports director John Williams, Guirassy turned down Chelsea because they wouldn’t guarantee him first-team minutes.
Instead, he joined Rennes for approximately €15 million, where he reached double-digit goal tallies in consecutive seasons, a first in his career.
Related: Barcelona Reject Man United’s €65M Offer For De Jong
The Stuttgart revival
The true transformation began after Guirassy returned to Germany with Stuttgart, initially on loan. His 14 goals helped the club avoid relegation, prompting a permanent €9 million transfer.
The 2023-24 season marked his true breakthrough. Guirassy exploded for 30 goals in 30 matches across all competitions, including an astonishing 28 Bundesliga goals. Only Harry Kane’s 36 goals prevented him from claiming both the German Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe.
During this period, Guirassy also switched his international allegiance from France youth teams to Guinea at the senior level.
Champions League dominance
Multiple Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle, pursued Guirassy last summer. He ultimately chose Borussia Dortmund, who triggered his €17.5 million release clause.
Despite an injury-delayed debut, his impact proved immediate. With 24 goals in 34 games, including 10 in the Champions League, Guirassy established himself among Europe’s elite forwards in his first-ever Champions League campaign.
When asked about his unexpected rise, Guirassy downplayed the surprise factor. The striker acknowledged his two exceptional seasons but insisted nothing changed in his routine – not his work ethic, sleep schedule, or video preparation habits.
The secret to success
Guirassy points to psychological factors as the key to his transformation rather than any physical adjustments. For him, confidence stands as the primary catalyst. He also recognized that raw talent falls short at elite levels of competition.
The forward stressed that success demands pushing beyond comfort zones – through painful challenges, consistent effort, and repeated high-intensity runs performed faster and more frequently than opponents.
Final thoughts
The Guirassy story exemplifies persistence in professional sports. A career marked by rejections, injuries, and relegations transformed into one of soccer’s best current narratives. From modest beginnings at Laval to Champions League stardom with Dortmund, his path reminds fans that breakthrough success can arrive at unexpected moments, even after a decade of professional soccer.
