Overview
Jean-Kévin Augustin, born on 16 June 1997 in Paris, France, is a professional footballer who operates predominantly as a forward. Standing at 1.77 meters, Augustin emerged from the youth ranks of Paris Saint-Germain, a club renowned for its academy talent. His career trajectory has taken him through various top-tier European leagues, including Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League, showcasing his adaptability and offensive capabilities across different tactical setups. Primarily a centre-forward, Augustin is recognized for his direct running, ability to operate in tight spaces, and a natural instinct for goal-scoring.
Position
Augustin's primary position is that of a striker or centre-forward. He is capable of leading the line as a lone striker, utilizing his physical attributes and finishing prowess. Additionally, he can be deployed as part of a two-man strike partnership, where his movement off the ball and link-up play become more prominent. His versatility has also seen him feature occasionally in wider attacking roles, although his most impactful performances have typically come through the middle, closer to the opposition's goal.
Identity
Often identified as a 'poacher with pace', Augustin's game is built around his quick acceleration and clinical finishing inside the penalty area. He possesses the ability to find pockets of space and react quickly to crosses and deflections. While not primarily a target man, his strength allows him to hold off defenders and create opportunities for himself and teammates. His career has been characterized by moments of significant promise, particularly during his early years at PSG and his spell with RB Leipzig, where his goal-scoring record reflected his potential as a top-level attacker.
Career path
Jean-Kévin Augustin's footballing journey began in the prestigious youth academy of Paris Saint-Germain. He joined the club at a young age and progressed through their various age-group teams, earning a reputation as a prolific scorer at youth level. His performances for the PSG U19 side, particularly in the UEFA Youth League, brought him to wider attention, leading to his senior debut.
Paris Saint-Germain (2015-2017)
Augustin made his senior debut for Paris Saint-Germain on 8 April 2015 in a Coupe de France match against Saint-Étienne. He signed his first professional contract with the club in February 2015. Over two seasons, he made 31 appearances across all competitions for PSG, scoring 3 goals and providing 3 assists, primarily as a backup option to established senior forwards. During his time, he contributed to PSG winning multiple domestic titles, including the Ligue 1 title in 2015-16 and several domestic cups.
RB Leipzig (2017-2020)
In July 2017, Augustin made a permanent move to Bundesliga club RB Leipzig for a reported €13 million fee, seeking more regular first-team football [Transfermarkt]. His debut season in Germany was his most productive, as he scored 12 goals and registered 5 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions [FBref]. He quickly became an integral part of Leipzig's attack, featuring prominently in their Bundesliga and UEFA Europa League campaigns. The subsequent season saw a reduction in his playing time and output, leading to a series of loan moves.
Leeds United, Monaco & Nantes (2019-2021)
Augustin joined English Championship side Leeds United on loan in January 2020, with an option to buy [Wikipedia]. However, his tenure was short-lived due to fitness issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, making only three substitute appearances. He then moved to AS Monaco in 2020, followed by a loan spell at FC Nantes for the 2020-21 season, where he struggled to regain consistent form and playing time.
FC Basel (2022-2024)
In 2022, Augustin moved to Swiss Super League club FC Basel, where he looked to revive his career. He enjoyed a more consistent period, contributing to their domestic and European campaigns. His time in Switzerland allowed him to accumulate more minutes and demonstrate his goal-scoring ability, albeit not consistently at his peak. He departed Basel in 2024.
Playing style
Jean-Kévin Augustin is characterized as a modern forward who combines pace, technical ability, and an instinct for goal. His playing style is rooted in his physicality and directness, making him a difficult opponent for defenders to contain when he is in form. Augustin excels in breaking defensive lines with his acceleration and cleverly timed runs into space, particularly in behind the opposition's back four.
Off-the-ball movement
One of Augustin's key strengths is his intelligent off-the-ball movement. He exhibits a good understanding of space, often drifting between centre-backs or pulling wide to create passing angles. This movement allows him to receive the ball in dangerous areas or create space for teammates. His ability to anticipate passes and react quickly to loose balls in the box is a hallmark of his predatory instinct.
Finishing and composure
Augustin possesses a strong finishing ability with both feet and is capable of scoring from various positions within the penalty area. He often displays composure in one-on-one situations with goalkeepers, opting for precise finishes rather than power alone. His shot accuracy, particularly from inside the box, has been noted during his more productive seasons. For instance, during his peak season at RB Leipzig in 2017-18, his xG (expected goals) per 90 minutes was among the higher figures for forwards in the Bundesliga, indicating his consistent positioning in scoring opportunities [Understat].
Physicality and link-up play
Despite not being the tallest striker (1.77m), Augustin uses his strength effectively to shield the ball and hold off defenders, allowing teammates to join the attack. He is capable of dropping deep to link play, showing a decent range of passing. While not his primary role, his ability to combine with attacking midfielders and wingers adds another dimension to his game. Comparatively, his style has drawn comparisons to forwards who rely on their bursts of speed and clinical finishing, such as a younger Anthony Martial or players like Wissam Ben Yedder, who thrive on intelligent movement and sharp finishing.
Achievements & honours
Jean-Kévin Augustin's career has seen him accumulate several team honours, primarily during his formative years at Paris Saint-Germain, where he was part of a dominant domestic side. While individual accolades have been less frequent, his contributions to these team successes underscore his role in top-tier European clubs.
Club Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | Ligue 1 | 2015-16 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Coupe de France | 2015-16, 2016-17 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Coupe de la Ligue | 2015-16, 2016-17 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Trophée des Champions | 2015, 2016 |
International Recognition
While Augustin has not earned senior caps for the French national team, he has been a prominent figure in France's youth international setup. His most significant achievement at this level was winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2016. He was a key player in the tournament, contributing significantly to France's success. He also finished as the top scorer in the competition, highlighting his potent goal-scoring ability on the international youth stage [UEFA].
Individual Accolades
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Golden Player: 2016
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Top Scorer: 2016 (6 goals)
International career
Jean-Kévin Augustin has represented France at various youth levels, showcasing his talent on the international stage from a young age. While he has yet to earn a cap for the senior French national team, his contributions at youth level have been notable, particularly during the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Youth International Appearances
Augustin was a key figure for the French U17, U18, U19, U20, and U21 squads. His most significant impact came with the France U19 team, where he played a pivotal role in their triumph at the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. In that tournament, Augustin was the leading goal scorer with six goals, including one in the final against Italy, and was subsequently named the Golden Player of the tournament due to his exceptional performances [UEFA]. This achievement highlighted his potential as a future senior international.
U21 Level
Following his success at the U19 level, Augustin transitioned to the France U21 team, where he continued to be a regular presence. He participated in qualifying campaigns for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, contributing goals and assists. His performances at this level further solidified his reputation as one of France's promising young forwards. Despite consistent involvement at youth levels, the intense competition for places within the senior French national team, often regarded as one of the deepest talent pools in world football, has meant that a senior cap has remained elusive for Augustin.
What makes Jean-Kévin Augustin stand out
Jean-Kévin Augustin's standout qualities lie in his combination of explosive pace, clinical finishing, and intelligent movement off the ball. His ability to accelerate quickly over short distances makes him a constant threat in behind defensive lines, allowing him to exploit spaces created by more withdrawn attackers or high defensive lines. This speed is complemented by a natural striker's instinct, enabling him to consistently find himself in goal-scoring positions inside the penalty area.
A distinctive trait is his composure when through on goal; Augustin rarely rushes his finish, often opting for placement over power, which contributes to a higher conversion rate when chances arise. Furthermore, his early success at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where he was both top scorer and Golden Player, demonstrated his capacity to perform under pressure on a significant international stage. These moments highlighted a player with the raw attributes and mental fortitude to be a decisive attacking force.
"Augustin possesses the raw pace and finishing ability that can trouble any defender. When he's confident, he's a very dangerous forward."