Abdellatif Aboukoura is a 20-year-old American-born Egyptian left winger for Loudoun United FC in the USL Championship. The right-footed attacker has two caps for the U20 national team. At the time of writing, he is the joint-top scorer in the league with 11 goals over 15 appearances. A natural inside forward, Aboukoura is tactically flexible to feature as an inverted winger or in attacking midfield.
Loudoun United’s rising star is around average height for his position (1.75 m) with a sturdy frame that is mature for his age due to broad shoulders and solid strength. He does not have top-end speed, but his initial burst/explosiveness is adequate. Aboukoura is quick and agile enough from out wide to make up for it to and still be a comfortable projection to a higher level. His body control is impressive, and that combines with his above average strength for the level to allow him to both shield possession and hold off challenges. Though he is not dominant in physical duels yet, Aboukoura has displayed early on in his career that his physical strength could develop into a reliable tool.
The Egyptian winger is an attacker that I have tracked since last season, which was already his third USL Championship season, having made his debut at 16. He has come a long way since, winning Player of the Month in March—the youngest ever to do so in the league. This accolade exemplifies the leap in development Aboukoura has taken in 2025, becoming a precursor to what turned out not to be just a hot run of form. He has become a finisher to bet on week in and week out, whether striking with confidence and power from the penalty spot or cutting into the box from the wing. Aboukoura’s ball-striking has hit an elite level this season, shooting with that same power and confidence from the top of the box (open play and set pieces) as he does on penalties. He consistently contributes goals from across the line, as his attacking positioning in the box is another trait that has reached a new tier. Aboukoura can arrive into space at the back or near post, using the half spaces on runs to support then tap-in the service, or use his on-ball ability to penetrate the box and put himself into position to strike. He strikes with such composure that it allows him a considerable volume of shots that still maintain precision despite the power he puts behind most, yielding almost only near misses when on target. Although he is now clinical in his ball-striking and remains composed even when in tight spaces, his end product still has room for improvement. Aboukoura has improved his decision-making in the final third, but his efficiency could be higher if he forced fewer actions when cutting inside past pressure by dribbling or combining play. As a player who initially impressed me last season as a creator from wide, his crossing is a piece of end product he utilizes that can still be improved. Though he puts solid curve on those deliveries both from open play and set pieces, he must work to refine his technique as many fall short of the target or do not beat the wall, in turn not creating the desired danger. Though his ball-striking and attacking positioning/instincts are elite for the level, there are still traits that Aboukoura can refine to round out a dominant finishing repertoire.
In possession, Aboukoura is tactically intelligent and technically sound enough to account for any lack of athleticism. His soft first touch is consistent on either foot when linking play, being secure on the ball upon reception. From there, his high-level composure in tight areas shines again, allowing him to be efficient cutting inside on the dribble, not losing creativity as he has gained the maturity to perform more ball-retaining via lateral or back passing. Aboukoura will still ground pass incisively into the box after cutting inside, which leads to assisting chances or attempts to combine play with the intent of taking the chance himself. Though an inside forward primarily and right footed, he consistently uses his soft first touch with his weak foot when linking play wide, as he loves to take on markers with his crafty dribbling, remaining calm as he switches to his right foot to cut inside while using his body to shield possession. Aboukoura can also quickly pass up the boundary to break lines from those situations, providing a duality in progression. His on-ball composure/technique and vision/creativity after linking play are important traits that complement his elite end product for the level well.
Defensively, Aboukoura has slowly become a more effective presser, whether that be a tactical or mentality change. He has proven to be more proactive, closing out quickly with more initiative and stepping into passing lanes along the boundary.
My evaluation of Aboukoura culminated in watching his performance against Orange County SC live, an atmosphere where you could feel his importance to his club. Playing at home to a 0-0 draw, he was unfortunate to pick up a foot injury in the first half following one of his trademark finishes from the top of the box, set up by a dribble to cut inside. Shortly after, his striker was sent off, and his involvement was limited to link-up play in the second half before being subbed off. Though not his best day, his style of play as an inverted winger was firmly on display, and the team’s end product suffered with him not at 100%.
Aboukoura has honed his end product and decision-making to a point where he is dominating possibly the third-best North American league. Stylistically and in stature, he compares favorably to Real Salt Lake goal scorer Diego Luna, who is scoring goals from a similar position in MLS. Luna took the USL pathway, too, though Aboukoura has taken some more time to establish himself. That said, he can be an MLS contributor now, though his athletic limitations may prevent him from reaching a potential of higher than relegation battles in the top five leagues.
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