{{short description|Ivorian footballer (born 2003)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Elye Wahi |image = Elye Wahi 2022.jpg |caption = Wahi in 2022 |full_name = Sepe Elye Delmas Wahi |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|1|2|df=y}} |birth_place = [[Courcouronnes]], France |height = 1.82 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rclens.fr/fr/pros-elye-wahi?saison=8694 |title=Elye Wahi |publisher=RC Lens |access-date=28 October 2023 |language=fr}}</ref> |position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]] |currentclub = [[OGC Nice|Nice]]<br>{{nowrap|(on loan from [[Eintracht Frankfurt]])}} |clubnumber = 11 |youthyears1 = 2009–2016 |youthclubs1 = Suresnes |youthyears2 = 2016–2018 |youthclubs2 = [[Stade Malherbe Caen|Caen]] |youthyears3 = 2018 |youthclubs3 = Montfermeil |youthyears4 = 2018–2020 |youthclubs4 = [[Montpellier HSC|Montpellier]] |years1 = 2019–2020 |clubs1 = [[Montpellier HSC II|Montpellier II]] |caps1 = 11 |goals1 = 3 |years2 = 2020–2023 |clubs2 = [[Montpellier HSC|Montpellier]] |caps2 = 85 |goals2 = 32 |years3 = 2023–2024 |clubs3 = [[RC Lens|Lens]] |caps3 = 27 |goals3 = 9 |years4 = 2024–2025 |clubs4 = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] |caps4 = 13 |goals4 = 3 |years5 = 2025– |clubs5 = [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] |caps5 = 17 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 2026– |clubs6 = → [[OGC Nice|Nice]] (loan) |caps6 = 14 |goals6 = 5 |nationalyears1 = 2019 |nationalteam1 = [[France national under-16 football team|France U16]] |nationalcaps1 = 2 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |nationalyears2 = 2019 |nationalteam2 = [[France national under-17 football team|France U17]] |nationalcaps2 = 1 |nationalgoals2 = 0 |nationalyears3 = 2021–2022 |nationalteam3 = [[France national under-19 football team|France U19]] |nationalcaps3 = 10 |nationalgoals3 = 4 |nationalyears4 = 2023 |nationalteam4 = [[France national under-20 football team|France U20]] |nationalcaps4 = 2 |nationalgoals4 = 0 |nationalyears5 = 2022–2023 |nationalteam5 = [[France national under-21 football team|France U21]] |nationalcaps5 = 13 |nationalgoals5 = 3 |nationalyears6 = 2024 |nationalteam6 = [[France Olympic football team|France Olympic]] |nationalcaps6 = 2 |nationalgoals6 = 0 |nationalyears7 = 2026– |nationalteam7 = [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] |nationalcaps7 = 1 |nationalgoals7 = 0 |pcupdate = 17 May 2026 (UTC) |ntupdate = 1 April 2026 (UTC) }}
'''Sepe Elye Delmas Wahi''' (born 2 January 2003) is a professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] for {{French football updater|Nice}} club [[OGC Nice|Nice]], on loan from [[Bundesliga]] club [[Eintracht Frankfurt]]. Born in France, he plays for the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast national team]].
==Early life== Sepe Elye Delmas Wahi<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fff.fr/competition/match/24544938-olympique-lyonnais-montpellier-herault-s-c.html |title=Olympique Lyonnais 5–4 Montpellier HSC |publisher=French Football Federation |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=fr}}</ref> was born on 2 January 2003<ref name="Soccerway"/> in [[Courcouronnes]], Essonne.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur77123.html |title=Sepe Elye Wahi |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=28 October 2023 |language=fr}}</ref> He is of Ivorian descent.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2017/meet-ngolo-kantes-14-year-old-brother-elye-wahi-who-scored-89-goals-last-season/|title=Meet 14-year-old SM Caen forward Elye Wahi, who scored 89 goals last season |website=www.getfootballnewsfrance.com|date=27 September 2017 }}</ref>
Wahi's father died when he was two years old. He grew up with his mother Olga, his sister, and his stepfather Richmond.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-07 |title=Wahi, les collines du crack |url=https://www.sofoot.com/articles/elye-wahi-le-phenomene-de-montpellier-au-parcours-agite-portrait-du-vendredi |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=SOFOOT.com |language=fr}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Caen=== While a youth player at [[Stade Malherbe Caen|Caen]], Wahi made headlines for scoring 89 goals in the 2016–17 season as an under-14 and under-15 player.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tarayre |first=Romain |date=23 December 2021 |title=The Dark Side of the "Beautiful" Game |url=https://www.stuyspec.com/sports/the-dark-side-of-the-beautiful-game |access-date=29 January 2023 |website=The Spectator}}</ref>
===Montpellier=== On 17 October 2019, Wahi signed his first professional contract with [[Montpellier HSC|Montpellier]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lagazettedemontpellier.fr/live/5daf60b9efc2590070690062/mhsc-elye-wahi-16-ans-et-deja-pro|title=MHSC : Elye Wahi, 16 ans et déjà pro !|website=Gazette live}}</ref> He made his professional debut in a 2–0 [[Ligue 1]] loss to [[FC Metz|Metz]] on 16 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2020/12/16/france/ligue-1/montpellier-herault-sport-club/fc-de-metz/3287540/|title=Montpellier vs. Metz - 16 December 2020 |website=Soccerway}}</ref>
Wahi scored his first goal for Montpellier in a 3–2 loss to [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] on 15 January 2021. In doing so, he became the club's second-youngest ever goal scorer at the age of 18 years and 13 days.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elye Wahi, 2e plus jeune buteur de l'histoire du club {{!}} MHSC Foot , billetterie Montpellier Hérault, mhsc match, match Montpellier, led publicitaire, panneau publicitaire led|url=https://www.mhscfoot.com/depeches/elye-wahi-2e-plus-jeune-buteur-de-lhistoire-du-club|access-date=2021-02-05|website=www.mhscfoot.com}}</ref> On 14 March 2022, Wahi signed a contract extension at Montpellier.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 March 2022 |title=Elye Wahi extends contract with Montpellier |url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2022/elye-wahi-extends-contract-with-montpellier/ |access-date=15 March 2022 |website=Get French Football News}}</ref> On 29 December 2022, by scoring his twentieth career Ligue 1 goal in a 2–0 away win over [[FC Lorient|Lorient]], Wahi became only the second teenager after [[Kylian Mbappé]] to reach this milestone in the previous forty years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Béal |first=Xavier |date=29 December 2022 |title=Lorient-Montpellier : Elye Wahi égale un record de Kylian Mbappé |url=https://www.goal.com/fr/amp/news/lorient-montpellier-elye-wahi-egale-record-kylian-mbappe/blt74a76492035cfa0c |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=[[Goal (website)|Goal]] |language=Fr}}</ref> He quickly became the second youngest player in the history of Ligue 1 to reach the landmark of 25 goals in the competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maurice |first=Nicolas |date=2023-03-20 |title=Wahi, toujours lui |url=https://espritpaillade.com/2023/03/20/wahi-toujours-lui/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Esprit Paillade |language=fr-FR}}</ref> On 7 May 2023, he scored four goals in fifteen minutes for Montpellier in a 5–4 away defeat to [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/L-ol-arrache-une-victoire-completement-folle-face-a-montpellier-5-4/1395355 |title=L'OL arrache une victoire complètement folle face à Montpellier (5-4) |publisher=L'Équipe |language=fr |date=7 May 2023 }}</ref>
===Lens=== On 20 August 2023, Wahi signed a five-year contract with [[RC Lens|Lens]] following a €35 million transfer from Montpellier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transferts : l'attaquant Elye Wahi signe cinq ans à Lens |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-l-attaquant-elye-wahi-signe-cinq-ans-a-lens/1414767 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}</ref> The deal became Lens's record arrival, Montpellier's record sale, and the second-biggest transfer between two Ligue 1 clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=à 20h55 |first=Par Le Parisien Le 20 août 2023 |date=2023-08-20 |title=Mercato : Elye Wahi signe son contrat avec Lens au stade Bollaert-Delelis avant le match contre Rennes |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/mercato-elye-wahi-signe-son-contrat-avec-lens-au-stade-bollaert-delelis-avant-le-match-contre-rennes-20-08-2023-3FRCOKS6PNC6JHZ4G6HZUXZLJU.php |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref> On the same day, he was presented to the [[Stade Bollaert-Delelis]] ahead of a match against [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]], holding his new number 9 shirt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media365 |date=2023-08-20 |title=Lens : Elye Wahi présenté devant le public de Bollaert (officiel) |url=https://sports.orange.fr/football/mercato/article/lens-elye-wahi-presente-devant-le-public-de-bollaert-officiel-CNT0000026yDQr.html |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Orange Actualités |language=fr}}</ref> On 29 September, he scored his first goal at the club in a 1–0 away win over [[RC Strasbourg Alsace|Strasbourg]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/french-league-strasbourg-lens-1e978a033e15244b68c592989ef6f870 |title=Striker Elye Wahi's goal gives Lens a 1-0 win at Strasbourg in French league |publisher=AP News |date=29 September 2023 }}</ref> On 3 October, he scored his first [[UEFA Champions League]] goal and provided an assist in a 2–1 home victory over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], winning the [[player of the match]] award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/champions-league-lens-arsenal-wahi-38a05d15494bb6fefabab32034cb6422 |title=Wahi stars with goal and assist as Lens beats Arsenal 2-1 in Champions League |publisher=AP News |date=3 October 2023 }}</ref>
===Marseille=== On 13 August 2024, Wahi joined fellow Ligue 1 club [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] for a fee of €25 million, plus €5 million in potential bonuses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elye Wahi in blue and white |url=https://www.om.fr/en/news/4803/1st-team/90093-elye-wahi-blue-and-white |publisher=[[Olympique de Marseille]] |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=13 August 2024 }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Site |first=Transfer |date=2024-08-13 |title=Elye Wahi Joins Olympique Marseille in €25m Deal |url=https://transfer-site.co.uk/ligue-1/olympique-de-marseille/elye-wahi-joins-olympique-marseille-in-e25m-deal/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=transfer-site.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> It was reported by the media, but not confirmed by the club, that he had signed a five-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-13 |title=Official {{!}} Elye Wahi joins Marseille from Lens |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/official-elye-wahi-joins-marseille-161800457.html |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Eintracht Frankfurt=== On 24 January 2025, Wahi moved to Germany and signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with [[Eintracht Frankfurt]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Eintracht Frankfurt|url=https://profis.eintracht.de/news/eintracht-frankfurt-verpflichtet-elye-wahi-165136|title=Eintracht verpflichtet Elye Wahi|trans-title=Eintracht signs Elye Wahi|date=24 January 2025|access-date=24 January 2025|language=de}}</ref>
====Nice (loan)==== On 1 January 2026, Wahi was loaned to [[Ligue 1]] side [[OGC Nice|Nice]] until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=L'Équipe|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-elye-wahi-officiellement-prete-par-l-eintracht-francfort-a-l-ogc-nice/1630537|title=Transferts : Elye Wahi officiellement prêté par l'Eintracht Francfort à l'OGC Nice|trans-title=Transfers: Elye Wahi officially loaned by Eintracht Frankfurt to OGC Nice|date=1 January 2026|access-date=1 January 2026|language=fr}}</ref> Two days later, he netted a goal on his debut in a 1–1 draw with [[RC Strasbourg Alsace|Strasbourg]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://onefootball.com/fr/news/wahi-lifts-nice-penders-excels-in-1-1-draw-with-strasbourg-42177304 |title=Wahi lifts Nice, Penders excels in 1-1 draw with Strasbourg |publisher=OneFootball |date=4 January 2026 }}</ref>
==International career== Wahi is a youth international for France. He had a single cap with [[France national under-17 football team|France U17]], where he played against [[Italy national under-17 football team|Italy U17]] on 3 December 2019. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
With [[France national under-19 football team|France U19]], he scored a goal against [[England national under-19 football team|England U19]] on 6 October 2021, in a 3–1 win. He then also scored in the next game against Mexico U19, which ended in a 4–1 victory.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
In September 2022, Wahi was called up for the first time with [[France national under-21 football team|France U21]] by manager [[Sylvain Ripoll]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wojtowicz |first=Luka |date=2022-11-14 |title=Elye Wahi convoqué de dernière minute avec les Bleus Espoirs |url=https://espritpaillade.com/2022/11/14/elye-wahi-convoque-de-derniere-minute-avec-les-bleus-espoirs/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Esprit Paillade |language=fr-FR}}</ref> He went on to score his first goal on his second cap for the national side against [[Belgium national under-21 football team|Belgium U21]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waked |first=Nicolas |date=2022-09-26 |title=Elye Wahi buteur avec les Espoirs ! |url=https://espritpaillade.com/2022/09/26/elye-wahi-buteur-avec-les-espoirs/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Esprit Paillade |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
On 28 March 2026, Wahi's request to switch allegiance to Ivory Coast was approved by [[FIFA]].<ref name="FIFA-Change">{{Cite web|url=https://knowledge.fifa.com/change-of-association-platform|title=FIFA Change of Association Platform|accessdate=28 March 2026}}</ref>
==Controversies== In March 2018, Elye Wahi was expelled from the Collège Jean-Moulin secondary school in partnership with Caen's youth academy.<ref name=":3" /> On 12 March 2018, the Collège had summoned Wahi’s stepfather, his legal representative, to a disciplinary committee on the grounds that Wahi had committed the following actions: "Under the verbal threat of physical violence, [Wahi] ordered three of his classmates to follow him into the restrooms and forced them to undress."<ref name=":3" /> In November 2021, investigative reporter Romain Molina alleged that Wahi had pressured the three students to [[Masturbation|masturbate]] in front of him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenormand |first=Maxime |date=19 November 2021 |title=Romain Molina dévoile les raisons qui auraient poussé Caen à renvoyer Wahi |url=https://malherbe-inside.fr/romain-molina-devoile-les-raisons-qui-ont-pousse-caen-a-renvoyer-elye-wahi/ |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=Malherbe-inside.fr |language=Fr |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230072845/https://malherbe-inside.fr/romain-molina-devoile-les-raisons-qui-ont-pousse-caen-a-renvoyer-elye-wahi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":1" />
In October 2021, a 22-year-old woman filed a legal complaint against Wahi for violence that resulted in her being incapable to work. She claimed that he had punched her in the nose during an evening out at the ''L'Entrepôt'' nightclub in [[Lattes, Hérault]], on the night of 12–13 September a month earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lengronne |first=Victor |date=9 October 2021 |title=Montpellier : le joueur du MHSC Elye Wahi accusé de violences par une femme qui a déposé plainte |trans-title=Montpellier: the MHSC player Elye Wahi accused of violence by a woman who has filed a complaint |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/herault/montpellier/le-joueur-du-mhsc-elye-wahi-accuse-de-violences-par-une-femme-qui-a-depose-plainte-2285824.html |access-date=13 June 2022 |website=[[France Info]] |language=fr}}</ref> The woman received treatment from emergency services for her injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-07 |title=Montpellier prospect Elye Wahi accused of hitting a woman in a nightclub - Get French Football News |url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2021/montpellier-prospect-elye-wahi-accused-of-hitting-a-woman-in-a-nightclub/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |language=en-US}}</ref> Wahi's entourage denied the allegations, and the case was eventually closed without further action.<ref name=":3" />
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 29 May 2026}}<ref name="Soccerway">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/sepe-elye-wahi/596974/ |title=E. Wahi: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Coupe de France]], [[DFB-Pokal]]}} !colspan="2"|[[UEFA#Club|Europe]] !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|[[Montpellier HSC II|Montpellier II]] |[[2018–19 Championnat National 3|2018–19]] |[[Championnat National 3]] |1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |[[2019–20 Championnat National 2|2019–20]] |[[Championnat National 2]] |7||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||1 |- |[[2020–21 Championnat National 3|2020–21]] |Championnat National 3 |3||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !11!!3!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!11!!3 |- |rowspan="5"|[[Montpellier HSC|Montpellier]] |[[2020–21 Montpellier HSC season|2020–21]] |[[Ligue 1]] |18||3||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||3 |- |[[2021–22 Montpellier HSC season|2021–22]] |Ligue 1 |33||10||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||10 |- |[[2022–23 Montpellier HSC season|2022–23]] |Ligue 1 |33||19||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||19 |- |[[2023–24 Montpellier HSC season|2023–24]] |Ligue 1 |1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !85!!32!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!92!!32 |- |[[RC Lens|Lens]] |[[2023–24 RC Lens season|2023–24]] |Ligue 1 |27||9||1||0||8{{efn|Six appearances and two goals in [[UEFA Champions League]], two appearances and one goal in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||3||colspan="2"|—||36||12 |- |[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] |[[2024–25 Olympique de Marseille season|2024–25]] |Ligue 1 |13||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||3 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Eintracht Frankfurt]] |[[2024–25 Eintracht Frankfurt season|2024–25]] |[[Bundesliga]] |8||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||11||0 |- |[[2025–26 Eintracht Frankfurt season|2025–26]] |Bundesliga |9||0||1||0||3{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !17!!0!!1!!0!!6!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!24!!0 |- |[[OGC Nice|Nice]] (loan) |[[2025–26 Ligue 1|2025–26]] |Ligue 1 |14||5||4||2||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs]]}}||2||19||9 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !167!!52!!14!!2!!14!!3!!1!!2!!196!!59 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 31 March 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="1"|[[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] |2026||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!1!!0 |}
==Honours== '''Individual''' *[[Trophées UNFP du football#Goal of the Year|Ligue 1 Goal of the Year]]: [[2022–23 Ligue 1|2022–23]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-28 |title=Trophées UNFP : le plus beau but de Ligue 1 révélé |url=https://www.onzemondial.com/ligue-1/trophees-unfp-le-plus-beau-but-de-ligue-1-revele-835492 |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=Onze Mondial |language=fr}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://www.om.fr/en/team/5073/5181/forward/90096-elye-wahi Profile] at the Olympique de Marseille website * {{FFF player}} * {{UEFA player}}
{{OGC Nice squad}} <!--{{Eintracht Frankfurt squad}}--> {{Ivory Coast squad 2026 FIFA World Cup}} {{Ligue 1 Goal of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wahi, Elye}} [[Category:2003 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Footballers from Essonne]] [[Category:Ivorian men's footballers]] [[Category:Ivory Coast men's international footballers]] [[Category:French men's footballers]] [[Category:France men's youth international footballers]] [[Category:France men's under-21 international footballers]] [[Category:French sportspeople of Ivorian descent]] [[Category:21st-century Ivorian sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]] [[Category:Men's association football forwards]] [[Category:Montpellier HSC players]] [[Category:RC Lens players]] [[Category:Olympique de Marseille players]] [[Category:Eintracht Frankfurt players]] [[Category:OGC Nice players]] [[Category:Championnat National 3 players]] [[Category:Championnat National 2 players]] [[Category:Ligue 1 players]] [[Category:Bundesliga players]] [[Category:2026 FIFA World Cup players]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]] [[Category:French expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]] [[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]