{{short description|French footballer (born 2000)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mohamed Simakan | image = 2022 Mohamed Simakan.jpg | caption = Simakan with RB Leipzig in 2022 | full_name = Mohamed Sanousy Simakan | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|5|3|df=y}} | birth_place = Marseille, France | height = 1.87 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rbleipzig.com/en/first-team/team/mohamed-simakan/ |title=Mohamed Simakan |publisher=RB Leipzig |access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref> | currentclub = Al-Nassr | clubnumber = 3 | position = Centre-back, right-back | youthyears1 = 2008–2009 | youthclubs1 = Vivaux Marronniers | youthyears2 = 2009–2010 | youthclubs2 = FC Bruz | youthyears3 = 2010–2011 | youthclubs3 = FC Rouguière | youthyears4 = 2011–2014 | youthclubs4 = Marseille | youthyears5 = 2014–2015 | youthclubs5 = JO Saint-Gabriel | youthyears6 = 2015–2017 | youthclubs6 = SC Air Bel | youthyears7 = 2017–2019 | youthclubs7 = Strasbourg | years1 = 2017–2019 | clubs1 = Strasbourg B | caps1 = 24 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2019–2021 | clubs2 = Strasbourg | caps2 = 38 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2021–2024 | clubs3 = RB Leipzig | caps3 = 85 | goals3 = 4 | years4 = 2024– | clubs4 = Al-Nassr | caps4 = 54 | goals4 = 4 | nationalyears1 = 2019–2021 | nationalteam1 = France U20 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam2 = France U21 | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | club-update = 21 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 2 July 2023 (UTC) }}
'''Mohamed Sanousy Simakan''' (born 3 May 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
== Early life == Born in Marseille to Guinean parents, Simakan acquired French nationality on 7 November 2005, through the collective effect of his mother's naturalization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JORF n° 0260 du 8 novembre 2005 - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/2005/11/08/0260 |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=legifrance.gouv.fr |page=17558 |language=fr |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2018 |title=Strasbourg : un jeune défenseur guinéen signe son premier contrat pro |url=https://www.foot224.co/2018/05/26/strasbourg-un-jeune-defenseur-guineen-signe-son-premier-contrat-pro/}}</ref>
==Club career==
=== Strasbourg === On 16 May 2018, Simakan signed his first professional contract with Strasbourg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rcstrasbourgalsace.fr/actualites/premier-contrat-pro-pour-mohamed-simakan|title=Premier contrat pro pour Mohamed Simakan|website=www.rcstrasbourgalsace.fr|date=15 May 2018 }}</ref> He made his professional debut in a 3–1 UEFA Europa League win over Maccabi Haifa on 25 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerway.com/matches/2019/07/25/europe/uefa-cup/racing-club-de-strasbourg/maccabi-haifa-fc/3034744/?ICID=HP_MS_01_34|title=Strasbourg vs. Maccabi Haifa - 25 July 2019 - Soccerway|website=www.soccerway.com}}</ref>
=== RB Leipzig === On 22 March 2021, Simakan agreed to join German club RB Leipzig on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, to be effective in the summer of 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/rb-leipzig-sign-mohamed-simakan-from-strasbourg-15205|title=RB Leipzig sign Mohamed Simakan from Strasbourg|website=Bundesliga|date=22 March 2021|access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref> He made his debut for the club in the First round of the DFB Pokal against SV Sandhausen, which ended in a 4–0 win. He made his Champions League debut on 21 September 2021, in a 2–1 defeat to Club Brugge.<ref>{{cite web |title=Club Brugge 2 - Leipzig 1 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2032665--leipzig-vs-club-brugge/ |website=UEFA |publisher=UEFA |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref> Simakan immediately became an important player for the club, taking part in 28 Bundesliga matches,<ref name="Simaken stats, Dfb">{{cite web |title=Mohamed Simakan |url=https://datencenter.dfb.de/profil/393171?historize_title=SC+Freiburg+-+RB+Leipzig%2C+2%3A4+i.E.%2C+DFB-Pokal+2021%2F22+Finale&historize_url= |website=Dfb |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref> He missed two matches during the season due to the COVID-19 virus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gjerulff |first1=Rune |title=Report: Three Leipzig players test positive for COVID-19 |url=https://bulinews.com/news/10732/toplists |website=bulinews.com/ |date=26 November 2021 |publisher=Bulinews |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref> He was also instrumental in the DFB Pokal, where he took part in all the matches on route to Leipzig winning the title.<ref name="DFB Pokal Match Report">{{cite web |title=DFB-Pokal, 2021/2022, Finale |url=https://www.dfb.de/dfb-pokal-der-maenner/spieltag/?spieledb_path=%2Fmatches%2F2337120 |website=Dfb |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref>
In his second season with the club, Simaken continued to be an important part of the team, as he played 24 matches in the league, scoring once.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mohammed Simakan |url=https://datencenter.dfb.de/profil/393171/spiele_in_saison/18644/29680?datacenter_name=datencenter#s18644_t29680 |website=DFB Datacenter |publisher=DFB |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref> On 6 September 2022, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 4–1 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/652591 |title=Visitors Shakhtar stun Leipzig 4-1 with Shved double on debut |publisher=ESPN |date=6 September 2022 |access-date=17 May 2023 }}</ref> Simaken participated in 5 matches in the DFB Pokal,<ref>{{cite web |title=Mohammed Simakan Dfb Pokal 22-23 |url=https://datencenter.dfb.de/profil/393171/spiele_in_saison/18640/29680?datacenter_name=datencenter#s18640_t29680 |website=Datacenter dfb |publisher=DFB |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref> where RB Leipzig won the competition for the second straight season, however he was an unused substitute in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=2022-23 German DFB Pokal, Final |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/668746/eintracht-frankfurt-rb-leipzig |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref>
On 19 September 2023, he scored the first ever goal of the 2023–24 Champions League season in the 3rd minute of a 3–1 away win over Young Boys.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0219-0e8c384ee79a-e94c0f9968ee-1000--simakan-scores-first-goal/ |title=Champions League group stage first scorers: Mohamed Simakan quickest off the mark in 2023/24 |publisher=UEFA |date=19 September 2023 }}</ref>
===Al-Nassr=== [[File:Mohamed Simakan Al-Nassr 2025 2 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Simakan with Al-Nassr in 2025]] On 2 September 2024, Simakan joined Saudi Pro League runners-up Al-Nassr for €45 million.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2024/official-mohamed-simakan-signs-for-al-nassr/|title=Official Mohamed Simakan signs for Al—Nassr|date=2 September 2024|language=en|website=getfootballnewsfrance.com}}</ref>
==International career== Thanks to his great performance with Strasbourg in Ligue 1, Simakan was called up by Bernard Diomède to play for France U20 national team. He played his first game as a starter against Slovenia in which he scored a header contributing to his team's 2–2 draw.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcstrasbourgalsace.fr/mohamed-simakan-buteur-avec-les-u20-beaucoup-demotions/|title= Mohamed Simakan, buteur avec les U20: "beaucoup d'émotions"|date=September 9, 2019}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 21 May 2026}}<ref name="SW">{{cite web|title=M. Simakan|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/mohamed-simakan/518049/|website=Soccerway}}</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, King's Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Strasbourg B |2017–18 |rowspan="2"|Championnat National 3 |18||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||1 |- |2018–19 |6||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !24!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!24!!1 |- |rowspan="3"|Strasbourg |2019–20 |rowspan="2"|Ligue 1 |19||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||0||0||25||0 |- |2020–21 |19||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !38!!1!!1!!0!!5!!0!!0!!0!!44!!1 |- |rowspan="5"|RB Leipzig |2021–22 |rowspan="4"|Bundesliga |28||1||6||0||7{{efn|Four Appearances in UEFA Champions League, and three appearances in the UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||41||1 |- |2022–23 |24||1||5||1||7{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||1||1{{efn|name=DFL|Appearance in DFL-Supercup}}||0||37||3 |- |2023–24 |32||2||2||0||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||1{{efn|name=DFL}}||0||42||3 |- |2024–25 |1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !85!!4!!14!!1!!21!!2!!2!!0!!122!!7 |- |rowspan="3"|Al-Nassr |2024–25 |rowspan="2"|Saudi Pro League |26||1||2||0||11{{efn|Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite}}||0||colspan="2"|—||39||1 |- |2025–26 |28||3||2||1||6{{efn|Appearances in AFC Champions League Two}}||1||2{{efn|Appearances in Saudi Super Cup}}||0||38||5 |- !colspan="2"|Total !54!!4!!4!!1!!17!!1!!2!!0!!77!!6 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !200!!10!!19!!2!!43!!3!!4!!0!!266!!15 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''RB Leipzig''' *DFB-Pokal: 2021–22,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peeters |first1=Thomas |title=A thriller in Berlin: how relentless RB Leipzig won their first major title |url=https://www.redbull.com/ph-en/rb-leipzig-german-cup-champions |publisher=Red Bull |access-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613185428/https://www.redbull.com/ph-en/rb-leipzig-german-cup-champions |archive-date=13 June 2022 |date=23 May 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> 2022–23<ref>{{cite news |date=3 June 2023 |title=Christopher Nkunku-inspired RB Leipzig beat Eintracht Frankfurt to win DFB Cup |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/rb-leipzig-eintracht-frankfurt-dfb-cup-final-live-team-news-match-stats-kolo-muani-23656 |access-date=3 June 2023 |publisher=Bundesliga}}</ref> * DFL-Supercup: 2023<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lisjak |first1=Mitja |title=Olmo s hat-trickom pokvaril veliki debi Kana pri Bayernu |url=https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/olmo-s-hat-trickom-pokvaril-veliki-debi-kana-pri-bayernu/677939 |publisher=RTV Slovenija |access-date=12 August 2023 |language=sl |date=12 August 2023}}</ref>
'''Al-Nassr''' *Saudi Pro League: 2025–26 *AFC Champions League Two runner-up: 2025–26<ref>{{cite news |date=16 May 2026 |title=No joy for CR7: Al-Nassr fall short, end as continental runners-up |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/no-joy-for-cr7-al-nassr-fall-short-end-as-continental-runners-up-42877246 |website=OneFootball |access-date=16 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://rbleipzig.com/en/first-team/team/mohamed-simakan/ Profile] at the RB Leipzig website * {{Soccerway|518049}} * {{LFP|simakan-mohamed}} * [https://racingstub.com/persons/22810/ Racing Stub profile] * {{FFF player|7813-simakan-mohamed}} * {{UEFA player}}
{{Al Nassr FC squad}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simakan, Mohamed}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:French sportspeople of Guinean descent Category:Black French sportspeople Category:Footballers from Marseille Category:Guinean men's footballers Category:Naturalized citizens of France Category:French men's footballers Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:RC Strasbourg Alsace players Category:RB Leipzig players Category:Al-Nassr FC players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Championnat National 3 players Category:Bundesliga players Category:Saudi Pro League players Category:France men's youth international footballers Category:France men's under-21 international footballers Category:French expatriate men's footballers Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia Category:21st-century French sportsmen Category:21st-century Guinean sportsmen