Southampton’s sixth summer signing, highly-rated teenager Sékou Mara provides an exciting attacking option for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Born in Paris, France, the 19-year-old began his footballing journey at Paris Saint-Germain in 2011 at just eight-years-old, where he stayed for four years.
At 12, he joined local sports club Boulogne-Billancourt in a bid to secure more playing time in his favoured number nine role.
After three years at Boulogne-Billancourt, Mara signed for Bordeaux in 2017, making 14 appearances and scoring five goals for Bordeaux B before finding himself a place in the first-team squad.
Making his professional debut for Bordeaux in a 2-0 defeat to Toulouse in February 2021, he went on to score his first professional goal in Bordeaux’s 1-0 victory over Rennes in May 2021, becoming the youngest player to score for the side in nearly 14 years.
A shining light in a struggling Bordeaux side, Mara made a huge impression in their 2021/22 season despite his tender age and an otherwise difficult campaign for the French outfit.
Scoring six goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances, the youngster undoubtedly showed his potential on French soil. Having only started in eight of those 26 appearances, Mara’s potential impact cannot be understated.
Not only has the youngster, of French-Senegalese descent, carved a path for himself on club level, he has also made a number of appearances for France’s national team at Under-16, Under-17, Under-20 and Under-21 level.
Boasting a dominant physical presence at 6ft, as well as an advanced technical ability, the youngster will be hoping to bring a new dimension to Saints’ attacking setup as the Premier League season nears.
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