The rise of Samuele Inácio continues at Borussia Dortmund

Samuele Inácio will be the name on many Borussia Dortmund fans’ lips following another impressive showing against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 33, with Niko Kovač also singing his praises after their recent win.

The Italian youngster started and scored in BVB’s 3-2 win at home to the Eagles, continuing to build on his bright start to life as part of Dortmund’s first-team.

Inácio has made six appearances this campaign for Kovač’s side, with his creativity on the ball and energy off it key characteristics of his game, which his boss is a big fan of:

“The boy has shown today [against Frankfurt] and in recent games that he wants it, he fights and works hard off the ball. He can do a lot with the ball – he has already created many chances in recent games.”

Watch: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

In fact, his skills are so highly appreciated by the Croatian that he has been touted as a possible replacement for Julian Brandt, who will be departing the club at the end of the season, by none other than the boss himself: “This could – even if only in quotation marks for now – perhaps become Jule’s replacement somewhere,” said the former Bayern Munich, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg coach.

An Italy U19 international, Inácio arrived in Germany from Atalanta in the summer of 2024, and has been quick to make an impression since leaving his homeland.

Watch: Dortmund’s pre-match farewells for Brandt, Süle and Özcan

His sparkling end of season form has put him at the forefront of Kovač’s mind ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, meaning we’ll likely be seeing plenty more of him next term.

Inácio and Dortmund’s final game of the 2025/26 season will see them travel to Werder Bremen, where the exciting talent may have another chance to impress before the curtains are drawn on the current campaign.