FC Schalke 04: Assan Ouédraogo replaces Lennart Karl at 2026 World Cup. Former Schalke player Assan Ouédraogo has been nominated, after Lennart Karl was injured. The German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann has nominated the Leipzig player Assan Ouédraogo, after Lennart Karl suffered a muscle tear in his left front thigh. Ouédraogo will travel directly from his holiday in Spain to the tournament quarter in Winston-Salem. FC Schalke 04 received around 10 million euros in exchange via an exit clause. Assan Ouédraogo moved to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2024 and signed a contract until 2029. The Mülheim an der Ruhr-born Ouédraogo has been through all the youth teams of the club since 2014. In July 2023, he made his debut as a 17-year-old under coach Thomas Reis in the 2. Bundesliga. Since then, the U17 European champion 2022 has been part of the Schalker U19 team. Ouédraogo's ten years at Schalke are over, after he moved to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2024. The offensive player said at the time: 'I have learned everything I have learned in football at Schalke and I am very grateful for this time.'