Djoully Nzoko

Djoully Nzoko (born 11 October 2007) is a Finnish professional football player who plays as a winger for Challenger Pro League club Jong Genk. He started his professional senior career with Inter Turku in 2024 aged 16.

Youth career Nzoko grew up in Vaala neighbourhood of Turku, where he played street football with his friends. He joined a youth team of Turun Palloseura (TPS) at the age of seven and played in the youth sector of Inter Turku since he was nine years old. On 28 September 2021, he was among the five youth players to sign an academy contract with Inter. During the 2023 season, Nzoko played for the Inter under-17 team in the U17 second-tier league.

Club career Inter Turku On 29 November 2023, at the age of 16, Nzoko signed his first professional contract with Inter Turku, on a three-year deal. He had made his senior debut with the club's reserve team in the fourth-tier Kolmonen earlier in 2022. Nzoko had attracted interest from high-profile foreign clubs, but he chose to stay in Inter and start a senior career in Veikkausliiga rather than joining a youth academy team abroad. Nzoko scored his first senior goal for Inter Turku first team on 11 February 2024, in a 3–1 win against Ekenäs IF (EIF) in Finnish League Cup. The team went on to win the league cup title, after beating Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in the final on penalties.

Nzoko missed the start of the 2024 season due to a minor injury, but eventually made his debut in Veikkausliiga on 31 May 2024 when aged 16, in a 3–1 home win against Haka. One week later, he scored his first Veikkausliiga goal on 7 June 2024, in a 2–0 away win against FC Lahti. During the 2024 season, he made 22 appearances and scored six goals for Inter in all competitions combined, prior to his departure in the early September.

Genk On 6 September 2024, Nzoko signed with Challenger Pro League club Jong Genk on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. According to MTV News, the fee was less than €1 million. He debuted for his new team on 9 November in the Belgian second tier.

International career Nzoko has been a regular in the youth national teams, having represented Finland at under-16, under-17 and under-18 age levels.

Nzoko was part of Finland U16 squad that won the friendly tournament Baltic Cup in July 2023, scoring three goals in three matches.

On 4 October 2023, Nzoko was named in the Finland U17 squad in the 2024 UEFA U17 Euro Championship qualification tournament. In the tournament Finland drew with Ukraine and Germany 2–2 and 1–1, respectively, before winning Liechtenstein 3–0, placing 2nd in the group and advancing to the Elite round.

On 31 October 2023, Nzoko was named in the Finland U18 squad for two friendly matches against Austria U18.

In the late August 2024, Nzoko received his first call-up to the Finland U19 national team, for two friendly matches against Romania, as a preparation for the upcoming 2025 UEFA U19 Euro Championship qualifiers.

Personal life Born and raised in Finland, Nzoko is of Congolese (DRC) descent. His cousin Elohim Nzoko is also a footballer for Inter Turku U19 team.

Nzoko has named Timo Furuholm and Neymar his idols in football.

Finland U16 Baltic Cup: 2023