1. Early life and youth career
Kenneth Zohore's early life laid the foundation for his professional football career, marked by a supportive family background and dedicated training at several youth clubs.
1.1. Personal background
Zohore was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 31, 1994. He comes from a diverse background, with a Danish mother and an Ivorian father. His family has a notable connection to the world of football: his father is the second cousin of renowned former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, a relationship that would later see Drogba serve as a mentor to Zohore. Growing up, these influences helped shape his aspirations and passion for the sport. His height is 74 in (188 cm) and his weight is 212 lb (96 kg).
1.2. Youth club career
Zohore's footballing journey began at a young age, with stints at several prominent Danish youth clubs. From 2002 to 2006, he played for BK Skjold. He then moved to KB, where he played from 2006 to 2009. In 2009, at the age of 15, Zohore joined the youth system at Copenhagen, where he was quickly promoted to the under-19 squad. His talent was recognized early, and he began training with the first team three times a week. On February 2, 2010, he joined the first team's training camp in Marbella, Spain, alongside Thobias Skovgaard, signaling his imminent step into senior professional football.
2. Senior club career
Kenneth Zohore's senior club career has seen him play for numerous clubs across Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, England, and Poland, experiencing a range of successes, challenges, and significant transfers.
2.1. F.C. Copenhagen
Zohore made his professional debut for Copenhagen on March 7, 2010, at the age of 16 years and 35 days. This appearance, in a 5-0 victory against AGF, saw him replace César Santin in the 73rd minute and established him as the youngest player ever to debut in the Danish Superliga. Despite this milestone, it was his only first-team appearance during the 2009-10 season.
On October 20, 2010, Zohore made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League for Copenhagen, playing against FC Barcelona at Camp Nou. At 16 years old, he entered the game as a substitute for César Santin in the 74th minute, becoming one of the youngest players in the history of the competition. Just ten days later, on October 30, 2010, he scored his first senior goal for F.C. Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga against Lyngby Boldklub, making him the second youngest goalscorer ever in the Danish Superliga, only behind Mads Beierholm.
His impressive early performances attracted significant attention from numerous prominent clubs across Europe, including trials at Chelsea and interest from Inter Milan. Notably, after a Champions League fixture, Chelsea player Didier Drogba, his second cousin, also approached him. Zohore's talent led to him being described as "one of the top striking prospects anywhere in the world."
2.2. ACF Fiorentina and loan spells
On January 31, 2012, his 18th birthday, F.C. Copenhagen announced Zohore's transfer to Italian club ACF Fiorentina for a fee reported to be around 1.00 M GBP. Upon joining, he was assigned shirt number 33. However, Zohore struggled to break into Fiorentina's first team, later admitting he was "too young" to cope with the intense competition for places within the squad. He did not make any first-team appearances during his tenure at the club.
Following his struggles in Italy, Zohore embarked on several loan spells. On August 8, 2013, he joined Brøndby IF on a season-long loan deal, which included an option to buy for a fee between 2.20 M EUR and 2.30 M EUR. The move reunited him with Thomas Frank, his former coach at Danish youth levels, who was then managing Brøndby. Brøndby paid a loan fee of nearly 100.00 K EUR to secure his services, fending off competition from German club Hannover 96. The transfer nearly collapsed due to a misunderstanding regarding wage payments, but the loan was eventually finalized. Although Brøndby hoped to make the transfer permanent, they were unable to meet Fiorentina's valuation.
On August 11, 2014, IFK Göteborg announced that Zohore had joined them on loan from Fiorentina. He made his debut on August 13, 2014, as a substitute in an away game against Åtvidaberg BK. In his home debut against Brommapojkarna on August 17, 2014, Zohore scored his first goal for IFK Göteborg just three minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute.
2.3. Odense Boldklub
On February 3, 2015, following the termination of his contract with Fiorentina, Zohore returned to the Danish Superliga by signing with Odense Boldklub. This move marked his first permanent return to Danish club football since leaving F.C. Copenhagen.
2.4. Cardiff City
Kenneth Zohore's time at Cardiff City was a significant period in his career, marked by his impactful contributions, particularly in the team's successful bid for Premier League promotion.
2.4.1. 2015-16 season
On the final day of the winter transfer window in January 2016, Zohore joined Championship side Cardiff City on loan. The transfer was complex: he was initially signed by Belgian club K.V. Kortrijk, also owned by Cardiff chairman Vincent Tan, from OB for a reported fee of around 1.00 M GBP on the same day, and then immediately loaned to Cardiff. At the time, Cardiff City was under a transfer ban due to a breach of financial fair play rules, which prevented them from signing players on permanent contracts. Club sources stated that the deal was not intended to circumvent the ban but rather to "boost his experience."
Zohore made his debut for Cardiff on February 6, 2016, coming on as a substitute for Sammy Ameobi in a goalless draw against Milton Keynes Dons. He featured frequently as a substitute in the final months of the 2015-16 season. On April 19, 2016, he scored his first goal for the club during a 2-1 defeat against Brentford. He earned his first start for Cardiff in the subsequent match, a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers on April 23, where he scored the team's opening goal. By the end of his loan spell, he had made 12 appearances and scored two goals.
2.4.2. 2016-17 season
In June 2016, Zohore signed a permanent three-year deal with Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee. The new manager, Paul Trollope, who had replaced Russell Slade, initially favored other new signings such as Frederic Gounongbe and Rickie Lambert. Consequently, Zohore made only one start in the first four months of the season, which was in a 1-0 defeat to Bristol Rovers in the first round of the League Cup on August 11, 2016.
However, after Neil Warnock replaced Trollope due to the club's struggles, Zohore's fortunes changed. In December 2016, he made a significant impact as a half-time substitute in a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Following this match, Warnock praised Zohore's performances, acknowledging that he had been "a little lazy" previously but had improved immensely, to the extent that Warnock stated he could not "buy anybody better than him at the minute." Zohore went on to score his first goal of the season on Boxing Day during a 2-2 draw with Brentford.
In February, Zohore was nominated for the Championship Player of the Month award, having scored a goal against Leeds United and impressive braces against Rotherham United and Fulham, though he ultimately lost out to Leeds' Chris Wood. He finished the season as Cardiff's top goalscorer with 12 goals, and his strong performances earned him a contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2020. At the end of the season, he was honored with the club's Young Player of the Year award.
2.4.3. 2017-18 season
Zohore's excellent form at the end of the previous season drew significant interest from other clubs. Both Hull City and Brighton & Hove Albion had bids rejected by Cardiff, with Hull City's original bid being 6.00 M GBP, which was later increased to 10.00 M GBP. Manager Neil Warnock emphatically stated that Zohore was not for sale and would only leave if he (Warnock) had a "heart attack and another manager takes over."
Zohore scored his first goal of the season in the opening match, which was the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Burton Albion on August 5, 2017. After a nine-game goal drought, he scored a brace against Leeds United on September 26 in a 3-1 win. However, he then suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of action until the Christmas period. He returned to the squad, replacing Omar Bogle in a 2-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on December 23, and then scored his fourth goal of the season against Fulham on Boxing Day. The new year saw Zohore score five more goals, including crucial winners against Bristol City and Ipswich Town. Cardiff City ultimately finished the season in 2nd place, securing promotion to the Premier League.
2.4.4. 2018-19 season
Zohore began the 2018-19 season as Cardiff's primary striker, starting against Bournemouth in the Premier League. However, a series of injuries and inconsistent form led to him being in and out of the squad throughout the season. He scored his first Premier League goal on February 9, in a 2-1 away win against Southampton. Despite this, his playing opportunities were reduced due to his injury issues and the team's performance, marking his final season with Cardiff City.
2.5. West Bromwich Albion
On July 19, 2019, Kenneth Zohore signed for EFL Championship side West Bromwich Albion in a deal valued at up to 8.00 M GBP. He scored his first goal for West Brom, a penalty, in a 1-1 draw with Reading on August 21, 2019. Despite the significant transfer fee, Zohore struggled to establish himself at the club, making a total of only 19 appearances across four seasons. His contract with West Brom was eventually terminated by mutual consent on January 31, 2023.
2.6. Millwall (loan)
On October 16, 2020, while still contracted to West Bromwich Albion, Zohore joined Millwall on a short-term loan deal scheduled to last until January 16, 2021. He scored his first goal for Millwall in a 2-0 victory against Preston North End on October 28.
2.7. Second stint at Odense Boldklub
On January 31, 2023, transfer deadline day, Zohore returned to his former club, OB, signing a deal for the remainder of the season. However, his second spell at OB proved to be brief and with limited playing time. He accumulated just over 100 minutes of playing time across six months. Consequently, Zohore departed from OB at the end of his contract on May 31, 2023.
2.8. Śląsk Wrocław
On July 11, 2023, Zohore joined Polish Ekstraklasa club Śląsk Wrocław on a free transfer. He signed a one-year deal that included an option for an additional season. His tenure with the club was relatively short-lived, as he left Śląsk Wrocław by mutual consent on March 6, 2024.
2.9. Fremad Amager
On January 30, 2024, it was confirmed that Kenneth Zohore had returned to Denmark, signing with Danish 2nd Division side Fremad Amager. This marked his most recent move in his professional career.
3. International career
Kenneth Zohore has represented Denmark at various youth levels, showcasing his potential on the international stage. He played for the Denmark U-17 team from 2009 to 2011, earning 24 caps and scoring 13 goals. In 2012, he made 2 appearances for the Denmark U-18 team, followed by a stint with the Denmark U-19 squad from 2010 to 2013, where he earned 16 caps and scored 6 goals. His progression continued to the Denmark U-21 team, for which he played from 2013 to 2017, accumulating 20 caps and scoring 8 goals.
In May 2018, Zohore was named in Denmark's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia. Despite this initial inclusion, he did not make the final 23-man roster for the tournament. He has not received a senior national team call-up since.
4. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Copenhagen | 2009-10 | Danish Superliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010-11 | Danish Superliga | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2011-12 | Danish Superliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Fiorentina | 2011-12 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2012-13 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Brøndby IF | 2013-14 | Danish Superliga | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 5 | ||
| IFK Göteborg | 2014 | Allsvenskan | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 2 | ||
| Odense | 2014-15 | Danish Superliga | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2015-16 | Danish Superliga | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 16 | 7 | |||
| Total | 27 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 9 | ||
| Cardiff City (loan) | 2015-16 | Championship | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 12 | 2 | |
| Cardiff City | 2016-17 | Championship | 29 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 30 | 12 | |
| 2017-18 | Championship | 36 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 39 | 9 | ||
| 2018-19 | Premier League | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 20 | 1 | ||
| Total | 84 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 22 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2019-20 | Championship | 17 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 20 | 5 | |
| 2020-21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021-22 | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2022-23 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 19 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 5 | ||
| Millwall (loan) | 2020-21 | Championship | 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 19 | 3 | |
| Odense (loan) | 2022-23 | Danish Superliga | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| Śląsk Wrocław | 2023-24 | Ekstraklasa | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 0 | ||
| Śląsk Wrocław II | 2023-24 | III liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 216 | 46 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 236 | 49 | ||
5. Honours
Kenneth Zohore has received the following honours throughout his club career:
- Copenhagen
- Danish Superliga: 2009-10, 2010-11
- Cardiff City
- EFL Championship runner-up: 2017-18
- Cardiff City Young Player of the Year: 2016-17