Ousmane Dembélé

Masour Ousmane Dembélé (; born 15 May 1997) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker or winger for club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his pace, technique and dribbling ability.

Dembélé began his professional career at Rennes, where he was named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year in his sole season with the first team. In 2016, he transferred to German club Borussia Dortmund, winning the DFB-Pokal in his debut campaign and scoring in the final. Regarded as one of the most promising young talents in world football, he joined Spanish side Barcelona in 2017 for an initial fee of €105 million, making him at the time the joint-second most expensive player in history, alongside Paul Pogba and behind Neymar. Although he did not fully meet the expectations placed on him at the club, Dembélé won multiple domestic honors with Barcelona, including three La Liga, two Copa del Rey, and two Supercopa de España titles.

Dembélé returned to France in 2023, signing with Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of €50.4 million. In the 2024–25 season, he experienced a resurgence in his career, contributing 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances as PSG won a continental treble. He was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year and UEFA Champions Player of the Season, and finished as the Ligue 1 top scorer.

After winning 20 caps and scoring five goals at youth level, Dembélé made his senior international debut for France in 2016. He was a member of the France squad that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, also featuring at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup (finishing as runners-up) and Euro 2024.

Early life and career

Dembélé was born in Vernon, Eure, in Normandy. His mother is Mauritanian-Senegalese from Waly Diantang, while his father is Malian. He took his first footballing steps in nearby Évreux, first at ALM Évreux and then at Évreux FC 27 between the ages of 12 and 13.

Club career

Rennes

Dembélé made his senior debut for Rennes' reserve side in the Championnat de France Amateur, on 6 September 2014, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute for Zana Allée. He effectively set up Alseny Kourouma for the second goal of a 2–0 home win over the reserves of Breton rivals Guingamp. On 9 November, he scored his first career goal, again coming off the bench in a game at the Stade de la Piverdière, this time against the reserves of Laval. He totalled 13 goals in 18 games in his first season, including a hat-trick on 16 May 2015 in a 6–1 win over Hérouville.

On 6 November 2015, Dembélé made his professional debut for Rennes' first team in Ligue 1 against Angers, replacing Kamil Grosicki for the last five minutes of the game. On 22 November, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal for the first team against Bordeaux, opening a 2–2 draw at Roazhon Park. On 9 January 2016, Dembélé found the net again for Rennes, as they came from 0–2 down to draw 2–2 against regional rivals Lorient at home. On 6 March, he scored his first Ligue 1 hat-trick in a 4–1 victory over Nantes in the Derby Breton.

On 18 March, he scored his tenth goal of the season in a 5–2 win against Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome. He ended his debut season with twelve goals from 29 matches, after scoring twice in a 3–1 win against Stade Reims on 2 April.

Rennes' sporting director Mikaël Silvestre compared Dembélé to Cristiano Ronaldo, who he had seen arrive at Manchester United around the same age.

Borussia Dortmund

On 12 May 2016, Dembélé signed a five-year contract with German club Borussia Dortmund, effective 1 July. On 14 August, he made his debut in a 2–0 defeat against Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup. He scored his first goal for Dortmund on 20 September, in a Bundesliga encounter against VfL Wolfsburg, which Dortmund won 5–1 at the Volkswagen Arena. On 22 November, he scored the first Champions League goal of his career as the German club defeated Legia Warsaw 8–4 in a group stage meeting.

On 26 April 2017, in the DFB-Pokal semi-final against Bayern Munich, Dembélé assisted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 69th-minute equaliser and scored the winning goal in the 74th minute, helping Dortmund reach the 2017 DFB-Pokal Final. On 27 May, in the decisive match against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Berlin Olympiastadion, he scored the first goal of a 2–1 victory as Dortmund clinched their first major title in five years. Dembélé was subsequently named man of the match.

After scoring six goals and recording 13 assists during 2016–17, Dembélé was named to the Bundesliga Team of the Season and awarded the league's Rookie of the Season award.

Barcelona

On 25 August 2017, La Liga side Barcelona announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Dembélé for €105 million plus a reported €40 million add-ons. On 28 August, he had his medical and signed a five-year contract, with his buyout clause set at €400 million. Barcelona had sold Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for €222 million, so the deal meant that Dembélé became the joint-second most expensive player (in euros), along with Paul Pogba. Rennes received a reported €20 million from Borussia Dortmund as a result of the sale, and Évreux 27 were also due part of the fee. He was handed the number 11 shirt previously worn by Neymar.

2017–18: First season and domestic double

Dembélé made his debut on 9 September as a 68th-minute substitute for Gerard Deulofeu in a 5–0 Derbi barceloní win over Espanyol at the Camp Nou, assisting the final goal by Luis Suárez. In his first league start eight days later at Getafe, he injured his hamstring and was ruled out for four months. He was given the medical all-clear on 2 January 2018, but a couple weeks later, he again injured himself against Real Sociedad and was ruled out for up to four weeks.

On 14 March 2018, Dembélé scored his first goal for Barcelona, netting the second goal in a 3–0 second leg win in the Champions League round of 16 against Chelsea. On 17 April, he scored his first La Liga goal, the opening goal in an eventual 2–2 draw with Celta Vigo. On 9 May, Dembélé scored twice, marking the first brace of his Barcelona career, in a 5–1 home victory over Villarreal. Dembélé won both the Copa del Rey and La Liga winners' medals in his first season in Spain, with the 20-year-old scoring four goals in 24 appearances across all competitions.

2018–19: Supercopa de España and second La Liga title

On 12 August 2018, Dembélé scored the winning goal against Sevilla in the Supercopa de España, in an eventual 2–1 victory to win Barcelona their 13th Supercopa de España title. He opened his La Liga season's goal tally by scoring the only goal of the game against Real Valladolid, on 25 August, away at the Estadio José Zorrilla. On 18 September, Dembélé scored his first Champions League goal of the season, helping Barcelona beat PSV 4–0 at the Camp Nou. On 4 November, he inspired Barcelona to a 3–2 comeback away against Rayo Vallecano, scoring the 2–2 equaliser with a half-volley in the 87th minute. On 11 December, he scored a remarkable solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur outpacing many defenders, finishing with a cool left footed shot past Hugo Lloris. He won the UEFA Champions League Goal of the Week for that goal. After the match, Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde praised the youngster, saying "He has made a great goal, within reach of players with his talent." He finished the season with 14 goals, 8 of them in the league, as his club managed to win another La Liga title.

2019–21: Recurring injuries

Dembélé injured his left hamstring in the opening match of the 2019–20 La Liga season, a 0–1 defeat against Athletic Bilbao, and was expected to miss five weeks. He returned as a half-time substitute in Barcelona's 2–1 home win over Villarreal on 24 September. He scored his first goal of the season in a 4–0 win over Sevilla on 6 October, but was later sent off for dissent. On 27 November, in a Champions League group match against his former club Borussia Dortmund, Dembélé suffered an injury which led to his substitution after 24 minutes. It was later confirmed by Barcelona that he would miss the following ten weeks with a thigh injury.

In February 2020, on his return to training, he suffered a serious hamstring tear which ended his season.

Dembélé returned to the field for the first time in ten months as a 70th-minute substitute for Ansu Fati in Barcelona's La Liga fixture against Villarreal on 27 September 2020. He scored his first goal in 380 days in the team's first Champions League fixture of the season against Ferencváros on 20 October.

2021–23: Hamstring injury and contract extension

Dembélé suffered a hamstring injury when playing with France national team in the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 in 2021. His injury required surgery, and was operated in Turku, Finland, by surgeon Lasse Lempainen in late June 2021. Dembélé was also operated by Lempainen and Sakari Orava in 2017 and 2020.

On 10 May 2022, Dembélé provided two assists in a 3–1 home victory over Celta Vigo. It was his 10th and 11th league assists in 2022. He finished the 2021–22 La Liga season as the league's top playmaker with thirteen assists.

On 14 July 2022, Dembélé extended his contract with Barcelona until 30 June 2024. His release clause was set to €50 million, and later raised to €100 million on 1 August 2023.

Paris Saint-Germain

2023–24: First season in Paris and domestic double

On 12 August 2023, Dembélé joined Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain on a contract until June 2028, for a fee of €50.4 million. He was initially assigned the number 23 jersey, but switched to the number 10 following Neymar's departure from the club.

On 20 August, Dembélé made his PSG debut, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw away to Toulouse. On 24 September, he got his first goal involvement for PSG, providing the assist for Gonçalo Ramos's first goal in a 4–0 Le Classique win over Marseille. On 24 November, Dembélé scored his first goal for the club in a 5–2 win at home over Monaco. On 10 April 2024, he scored his first Champions League goal with PSG in a 3–2 home defeat against his former club Barcelona in the quarter-final first leg. In the second leg six days later, he scored PSG's first goal in a 4–1 away victory, helping secure his club's qualification to the semi-finals and taking home the player of the match award. At the end of the 2023–24 season, Dembélé won the Ligue 1 title with PSG. He also scored the opening goal in PSG's 2–1 win over Lyon in the 2024 Coupe de France final.

2024–25: Continental treble win and Ligue 1 Player of the Year

On 5 January 2025, Dembélé scored a stoppage-time winner as PSG defeated Monaco 1–0 in the 2024 Trophée des Champions. On 22 January, he scored Paris's first goal in a 4–2 comeback victory over Manchester City in the Champions League. On 29 January, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 Champions League victory over VfB Stuttgart, his second career hat-trick and first in European competitions, helping PSG qualify to the knockout phase play-offs. Three days later, Dembélé scored another hat-trick in a 5–2 league win away to Brest, becoming the first PSG player to have scored consecutive hat-tricks in official matches. In the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on 11 March, Dembele scored the equalizing goal on aggregate against Liverpool. He scored in the ensuing penalty shoot-out as PSG advanced to the quarterfinals. On 29 April, he scored PSG's only goal in a 1–0 away win over Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals first leg. He assisted Achraf Hakimi's goal in the second leg, helping PSG advance to the final with a 2–1 home victory and setting a new record for the most goal contributions by a player at a French club in a single Champions League campaign, with twelve.

Dembélé ended the season as joint-top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals, along with Marseille's Mason Greenwood, having helped PSG to their 13th league title. He was also named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the first time, and was included in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. On 31 May 2025, Dembélé won the Champions League after PSG beat Inter Milan 5–0 in the final, a match in which he provided two assists. After the final, his statistics for the season were of 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions, leading to him being cited as one of the leading candidates for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

International career

Dembélé was called up to the senior France squad for the first time in August 2016 to face Italy and Belarus in friendlies after Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fekir withdrew through injury. He made his debut on 1 September against the former at the Stadio San Nicola, replacing Antoine Griezmann for the final 27 minutes of a 3–1 win. On 13 June 2017, Dembélé scored his first goal for France in a 3–2 friendly victory against England.

On 17 May 2018, Dembélé was named in the 23-man French squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On 15 July, he was an unused substitute as France beat Croatia 4–2 in the final.

Dembélé was called up to the French squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he played all games as France finished the tournament as runner-ups. Dembélé started the final but conceded a penalty in the first half and was substituted in the 41st minute.

On 18 November 2023, Dembélé scored a goal in a 14–0 win over Gibraltar during the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, which was the largest win in the history of the France national team. At the final tournament in Germany, he was named man of the match in France's quarter-final victory against Portugal.

Style of play

Dembélé is a winger who can play on either flank, due to his ability to use both feet, and to utilise his technical ability, speed, and agility in order to get past opponents or beat defenders in one-on-one situations. Dembélé can also operate as a left or right-sided attacking midfielder in a 4–4–2 or 3–5–2 formation. His clinical finishing and eye for goal also allow him to be deployed in a more offensive role as a striker. Dembélé also has great quality in terms of his shooting ability from distance.

Often described as one of the best players in the world, Dembélé has received praise from former team captain Andrés Iniesta for his game-changing qualities. He is well known for his ability to use either foot; a highly skilful player, his dribbling skills and ability to perform elaborate moves allow him to cut through from the left or right wing in order to score or create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. The Frenchman is also an excellent crosser of the ball; moreover, his creativity is exceptional when in possession. Furthermore, his pace and intelligent runs make him a major offensive threat during counterattacks.

Personal life

Dembele is a practising Muslim. He married a Moroccan woman in a traditional Moroccan ceremony in France in December 2021. They have a daughter, born September 2022.

In July 2021, video footage of Dembélé along with teammate Antoine Griezmann circulated online, in which he was seen making racial comments against the Japanese technicians in their hotel room. As the technicians appeared to be troubleshooting the room's television, Dembélé made comments towards Griezmann in French, stating "All these ugly faces, just so you can play '' PES'', aren't you ashamed?", continuing with "What the fuckin language?" before zooming in while laughing on one of the technicians' faces, mentioning "Are you technologically advanced in your country or not?".

Career statistics

Club

International

:''Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dembélé goal''

Honours

Borussia Dortmund
* DFB-Pokal: 2016–17

Barcelona
* La Liga: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23
*Copa del Rey: 2017–18, 2020–21
* Supercopa de España: 2018, 2023

Paris Saint-Germain
* Ligue 1: 2023–24, 2024–25
* Coupe de France: 2023–24, 2024–25
* Trophée des Champions: 2023, 2024
*UEFA Champions League: 2024–25

France
* FIFA World Cup: 2018; runner-up: 2022
* UEFA Nations League third place: 2024–25

Individual
* Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 2015–16
* UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: March 2016, January 2025
*UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2024–25
* UEFA Champions League Player of the Season: 2024–25
*UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2016
*Bundesliga Rookie of the Season: 2016–17
*Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2016–17
* VDV Newcomer of the Season: 2016–17
*La Liga top assist provider: 2021–22
* UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2023–24, 2024–25
*Ligue 1 top assist provider: 2023–24 (shared)
* Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2024–25
* Ligue 1 top goalscorer: 2024–25 (shared)
* ''The Athletic'' European Men's Team of the Season: 2024–25

Orders
* Knight of the Legion of Honour: 2018

References

External links

Profile
at the Paris Saint-Germain F.C. website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dembele, Ousmane
1997 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Vernon, Eure
Footballers from Eure
French men's footballers
Men's association football wingers
Évreux FC 27 players
Stade Rennais FC players
Borussia Dortmund players
FC Barcelona players
Paris Saint-Germain FC players
Ligue 1 players
Bundesliga players
La Liga players
France men's youth international footballers
France men's under-21 international footballers
France men's international footballers
French expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
French expatriate sportspeople in Germany
French expatriate sportspeople in Spain
2018 FIFA World Cup players
FIFA World Cup–winning players
UEFA Euro 2020 players
2022 FIFA World Cup players
UEFA Euro 2024 players
Black French sportspeople
French Muslims
French sportspeople of Malian descent
French sportspeople of Mauritanian descent
French sportspeople of Senegalese descent
Knights of the Legion of Honour
Association football people awarded knighthoods
21st-century French sportsmen
UEFA Champions League–winning players