Yaya Sanogo

At 31 years old, Yaya Sanogo has this physical status:

Yaya Sanogo (born 27 January 1993) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 side Toulouse. He is a French youth international having represented his country at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 level.

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Club career

Sanogo was born in Massy, Essonne. Sanogo joined CO Les Ulis, the same club that produced France's national team's all-time top goalscorer Thierry Henry after struggling to gain admission to the prestigious Clairefontaine academy. He was with the club for just a year before being hired on an aspirant (youth) contract with first division club Auxerre at age 13. In the 2006–07 edition of the Championnat Federal des 14 ans, Sanogo quickly established himself in the club's youth team, scoring 25 goals in 14 games and also contributing 17 assists. Sanogo averaged a goal per game when playing with the under-16 team in the Championnat National des 16 ans the following season. Sanogo's consistent scoring on the international stage, as well as his good domestic performances, earned him to be named Auxerre's top overall prospect. Before signing his first professional deal for three years in 2009, he piqued the attention of Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Sanogo was not immediately promoted to the senior squad and instead began the season with the Auxerre under-18 team in the Championnat National des 18 ans. Sanogo was recalled to the team's Championnat de France Amateur team on October 10, 2009, defeating Pontivy 2–1. In a 3–2 loss to Romorantin, he scored his first CFA goal two weeks later. He netted again this week, this time with Auxerre taking a 1–0 victory over Sénart-Moissy. In a 6–2 victory over Viry-Chrillon on December 5, the youngster converted a hat trick against Viry-Châtillon. Despite being only 16 years old, the three-goal display rated him as the team's top scorer. Auxerre boss Jean Fernandez announced Sanogo to the team's squad on January 24th, the day before his 17th birthday. He was given the number 19 shirt. In the 108th minute, Sanogo made his professional debut in the game, as a substitute. Auxerre won the game 3–0 on penalties after the match ended 1–1 in regular time and extra time. In a 2–1 loss to Lyon on May 5, 2010, Sanogo made his league debut as a replacement.

Sanogo's reserve team in the fourth division began playing in the 2010–11 season. Sanogo defeated Mulhouse 2–0 in a league match on September 18, 2010 after suffering a fractured tibia. The player was expected to miss five months due to the injury two days later.

Sanogo made his return to professional football in the Coupe de la Ligue, beating Nancy 2–1 for his first appearance of the campaign. He made his first appearance in over 17 months as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Lorient on September 21, 2011. Sanogo's first professional debut came in a 2–1 victory over Sochaux four days later. In a 2–0 victory over Toulouse, he scored his first professional goal, netting the opener.

Sanogo had signed a long-term deal with Arsenal of the Premier League, which was revealed on July 1, 2013. Arsenal revealed on its official Twitter account on July 5th that Sanogo would be the number 22 for the 2013–14 season. Francis Coquelin, who was loaned out to SC Freiburg for the season, had used the number before.

Sanogo made his competitive debut for Arsenal against Fulham at Craven Cottage on August 24th, where he appeared in the 81st minute for Lukas Podolski as the Gunners went on to win the match 3–1.

In mid-September, Sanogo sustained a back injury while doing international service with the France U21 side, and was barred from returning for several weeks. Despite not playing for Arsenal since sustaining the injury, Sanogo was nominated for the Golden Boy Award 2013.

In a 2–1 FA Cup victory over Liverpool on February 16, 2014, he made his first appearance for Arsenal in his first appearance in the FA Cup. Sanogo's success was lauded by club boss Arsène Wenger, who expressed his displeasure and rated the team's results as "excellent." Sanogo made his UEFA Champions League debut against Bayern Munich in the round-of-16 home leg on February 20. Arsenal defeated Wigan Athletic on penalties in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, in 120 minutes. Sanogo acted as a replacement for German football Lukas Podolski in the 2014 FA Cup Final against Hull City, winning the trophy for the first time since 2005.

Sanogo scored four goals in Arsenal's 5–1 victory over Benfica in the Emirates Cup on August 2nd, 2014 during pre-season. He started as Arsenal's lone striker in the 2014 FA Community Shield against Manchester City on August 10; he was replaced by Olivier Giroud at halftime in the 3–0 victory at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal's first competitive goal was scored on November 26th, leading to a 2–0 home win over Borussia Dortmund in the second minute of the game. Arsenal entered the game with a game remaining to play.

On January 13, 2015, Sanogo was loaned to Crystal Palace, another Premier League club, for the remainder of the season. He was Alan Pardew's first signing for them, and they promised him more playing time. He started with a 3–2 victory over Burnley four days later. Sanogo scored his first goal for the club on January 24th as they defeated Southampton by the same score away in the FA Cup fourth round.

Sanogo completed a year-long loan transfer to Ajax, the Eivisie side. Sanogo made his professional debut for Ajax in the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round away match against SK Rapid Wien, which resulted in a 2–2 draw. In the season opener against AZ on September 9, 2015, he made his regular season debut in the season opener, which resulted in a 3–0 victory. In a friendly match against Umm Salal SC, Qatar, he scored his first goals for Ajax. Ajax defeated Ajax 6-1, with Sanogo scoring a hat-trick of goals in the 6th, 17th, and 35th minutes of the game. Despite this hat trick in a pre-season friendly, Yaya Sanogoal, the Ajax's most unflattering nickname, was given to him.

Sanago joined Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the season on February 1, 2016. In a 3–4 loss at The Valley on February 27, he scored his only goals for Charlton in the form of a hat-trick.

Following his release from Arsenal, Sanogo returned to France to join Ligue 1 side Toulouse on a three-year contract on July 7. In his first season as a teenager, he scored six goals, two late strikes in a 2–2 home draw with RC Strasbourg on March 17th. In a 3–0 playoff final victory at Ajaccio on May 23, he scored as his team stayed up.

Toulouse announced Sanogo on July 7, 2020, the first step forward. In 70 competitive games, he scored second, second to Max Gradel for the club over the three seasons.

Sanogo joined English Championship side Huddersfield Town on a contract until the 2020-2021 season comes to an end. He had announced that his deal would not be renewed on May 11, 2021, and the Terriers' James Bond left the Terriers after nine appearances on September 11, 2021.

International career

Sanogo, who was born in France, is of Ivorian descent. Sanogo has been a member of France's under-16 and under-17 squads. Sanogo was installed as the first-choice striker and scored 18 goals in 18 games for the under-16s. Sanogo's top goals during the season included a brace against Uruguay, a hat-trick against Australia, a brace against Mali in the Tournio de Montaigu, and a goal against Germany in a match played at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Sanogo scored a tournament-leading five goals at the 2009 Aegean Cup. In a group stage match against Belgium, he scored a hat trick against Belgium, as well as scoring the game-winning goal against Norway, which France defeated 2–1.

Sanogo's under-17 team captain was selected by coach Guy Ferrier for a six-month absence, and he continued his stellar play against Belgium in the Toto Cup in Austria. In the new year, he relinquished the captaincy, instead granting it to Lille defender Jérémy Obin. Sanogo scored goals against Slovenia and Estonia in qualifying for the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, gaining a brace against the latter to help the team qualify for the Elite Round portion of qualifying. Sanogo missed the Elite Round due to a broken forearm while training with Auxerre, but France nonetheless qualified for the UEFA-sanction tournament without him. Sanogo went scoreless in the first two group stage matches in the tournament. In a 3–1 victory in the final group stage match against Switzerland, he scored a brace against Switzerland in a span of four minutes. Because of the team's success, they were able to advance to the semi-finals, where the team was beaten by England.

Sanogo skipped the under-18 team in August 2010 and received his first call up to the under-19 team to compete in the Sendai Cup. Sanogo participated in all three matches, and the team's last group stage match against Brazil had been voted the target of the tournament by the tournament's organizing committee. The aim, according to Sanogo, "the highest aim of my career." He spent a lot of time with the team, but returned in May 2011 for Elite Round qualifying for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. Sanogo participated in all three group stage matches after France failed to qualify for the second place in its class. Sanogo remained eligible to represent the under-19 team for the 2011–12 season despite being an underage player during the 2010–11 season. In his first appearance of the new campaign, he scored a goal in a 2–2 draw with England at the Limoges Tournament.

Sanogo was a member of France's first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was in the starting lineup for all of France's games, and he was his country's best scorer in the tournament, with a total of four goals.

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