Early years

Yan Valery was born in February 1999, in Champigny-sur-Marne, in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, eight miles from the city centre.

As a boy, he played for Champigny-sur-Marne 94, and was a gifted footballer, although by his own admission he preferred kicking the ball around casually with his friends than the organised club side of the sport.

Still, after trying his hand at a few other sports, such was his talent that it was no surprise when he soon began to go down that route, being picked up by Stade Rennais as a 14-year-old.

Much like Southampton, Rennes, as they are widely known, have a reputation for producing notable young players, with the likes of World Cup winner Ousmane Dembélé, as well as Sylvain Wiltord and Mikaël Silvestre, part of their alumni.

Joining Saints

At 16, having impressed in a tournament for Rennes, he came to the attention of Saints.

A move to the club’s Academy was then secured in 2015, as Valery took the brave decision to leave his homeland at a young age and continue his development in England.

It would prove to be a wise choice.

Breakthrough season

After establishing himself as a regular in the youth sides at Saints, Valery’s big break came in the 2018/19 season.

Handed a debut in a League Cup tie away to Leicester City, the athletic full-back grabbed the opportunity with both hands, turning in an impressive display which helped earn him a Premier League debut in a 2-2 home draw with Manchester United a few days later.

Valery took to first-team football in such an accomplished fashion that he quickly became the club’s first-choice right-back.

Having received his debut under Mark Hughes, he also impressed Ralph Hasenhüttl following his appointment in December 2018, with the Austrian keeping faith with him throughout the second half of the campaign.

Valery scored his first senior goal in incredible fashion, with a 25-yard thunderbolt away to Manchester United in March 2019, with Saints eventually losing 3-2 despite his opening strike, before he scored again a week later, netting the equaliser in a 2-1 home triumph over Tottenham Hotspur.

Valery ended his debut senior campaign by picking up the club’s First-Team Young Player of the Season award.