Idrissa Gana Gueye; a midfielder at the top of his game
A midfielder with defensive characteristics, excellent at winning back possession and a great football brain, Idrissa Gana Gueye has joined Paris Saint-Germain for the next four years. Let's take a look at this sentinel who works for the team.
Native of Dakar, Senegal, Idrissa Gana Gueye, who turns 30 in September, began his football journey in his homeland Senegal before joining France at 17 years of age. Scouted by Lille, he joined the Dogues’ youth academy in 2007 and made his first team debut in the Coupe de France in 2010. In 2011 he won the Ligue 1 championship, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions.
His performances saw him called up to the Teranga Lions and enabled him to take part in the 2012 Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as three Africa Cup of Nations. In 176 matches with LOSC, he scored 6 goals and he caught the eye of several clubs over the Channel, signing for Aston Villa in 2015.
After an excellent Premier League season, where he recorded the second highest number of tackles and recuperations behind Leicester’s N’Golo Kanté, Idrissa Gueye chose to join Everton. Since the summer of 2016 with the Toffees, Gueye has continued to progress and impress more and more each season.
In three seasons with Liverpool’s ‘other’ club, the Senegal midfielder attempted more tackles (395), completed more tackles (282) and made more interceptions (218) than any other player over the same period and was second in terms of ball-winning (786) behind Kanté (825). But the former Lille midfielder’s quality are not only defensive. In a team that played a very direct style, he was his side’s first passer and his technical qualities seduced the Paris Saint-Germain decision makers.
A fantastic passer and blessed with great vision, Idrissa Gueye has the ideal profile to fit into the Paris midfield. The Parc des Princes will certainly reserve him a fantastic welcome.