# Omar Colley > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Omar_Colley > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Omar_Colley.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Colley > Source revision: 1356786654 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Gambian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Omar Colley | image = Omar Colley (cropped).jpg | upright = 1.1 | caption = Colley with [Beşiktaş](/source/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K.) in 2023 | full_name = Omar Colley Daniel | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|10|24|df=y}} | birth_place = [Lamin](/source/Lamin%2C_Western_Division), The Gambia | height = 1.91 m{{cite web |url=https://www.sampdoria.it/en/player/202223-omar-colley/ |title=Omar Colley |work=U.C. Sampdoria |publisher=U.C. Besiktas |accessdate=2 September 2022 |author1=Dnext |archive-date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902184543/https://www.sampdoria.it/en/player/202223-omar-colley/ |url-status=dead }} | position = [Centre-back](/source/Centre-back) | currentclub = [Al-Diriyah](/source/Al-Diriyah_Club) | clubnumber = 15 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = [Jattas](/source/Jattas_FC_FC) | years1 = 2010–2011 | clubs1 = [Wallidan](/source/Wallidan_FC) | caps1 = 15 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2012 | clubs2 = [Real de Banjul](/source/Real_de_Banjul_FC) | caps2 = 17 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2013–2014 | clubs3 = [KuPS](/source/Kuopion_Palloseura) | caps3 = 57 | goals3 = 5 | years4 = 2015–2016 | clubs4 = [Djurgårdens IF](/source/Djurg%C3%A5rdens_IF_Fotboll) | caps4 = 44 | goals4 = 5 | years5 = 2016–2018 | clubs5 = [Genk](/source/K.R.C._Genk) | caps5 = 54 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2018–2023 | clubs6 = [Sampdoria](/source/U.C._Sampdoria) | caps6 = 129 | goals6 = 3 | years7 = 2023–2024 | clubs7 = [Beşiktaş](/source/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K.) | caps7 = 34 | goals7 = 7 | years8 = 2024–2025 | clubs8 = [PAOK](/source/PAOK_FC) | caps8 = 8 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2025– | clubs9 = [Al-Diriyah](/source/Al-Diriyah_Club) | caps9 = 28 | goals9 = 3 | nationalyears1 = 2009 | nationalteam1 = [Gambia U17](/source/Gambia_national_under-17_football_team) | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | nationalyears2 = 2011 | nationalteam2 = [Gambia U20](/source/Gambia_national_under-20_football_team) | nationalcaps2 = 10 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2012– | nationalteam3 = [Gambia](/source/Gambia_national_football_team) | nationalcaps3 = 64 | nationalgoals3 = 2 | club-update = 2 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 31 March March 2026 (UTC) }} '''Omar Colley''' (born 24 October 1992) is a Gambian professional [footballer](/source/association_football) who plays as a [centre-back](/source/centre-back) for [Saudi First Division League](/source/Saudi_First_Division_League) club [Al-Diriyah](/source/Al-Diriyah_Club) and [captains](/source/Captain_(association_football)) the [Gambia national team](/source/Gambia_national_football_team). ==Club career== ===Gambian clubs=== Colley started out playing youth football with [Wallidan FC](/source/Wallidan_FC) who are a part of his home country's top flight [GFA League First Division](/source/GFA_League_First_Division).{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXDOE02MatY |title= Twitter-kyselytunti: Omar Colley |publisher= [KuPS](/source/Kuopion_Palloseura) |date= 24 October 2014 |access-date= 15 January 2015}} After he started playing for the first team he trialed with [Major League Soccer](/source/Major_League_Soccer) club [Sporting Kansas City](/source/Sporting_Kansas_City) on two occasions in 2010 and 2011.{{cite web |url= http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/wallidan-starlet-gets-kansas-city-invitation |title= Wallidan starlet gets Kansas City invitation |publisher= [The Daily Observer](/source/The_Daily_Observer) |date= 24 November 2010 |access-date= 15 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150115061257/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/wallidan-starlet-gets-kansas-city-invitation |archive-date= 15 January 2015 }} The Americans wanted to sign Colley but refused to pay any form of transfer fee or [training compensation](/source/Transfer_(association_football)) to his Gambian club. Wallidans founder called their offer "out of touch with modern football" and "an insult to the local clubs"{{cite web |url= http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/wallidan-clarify-omar-colley-transfer-talk |title= Wallidan clarify Omar Colley transfer talk |publisher= [The Daily Observer](/source/The_Daily_Observer) |date= 11 April 2011 |access-date= 2 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085716/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/wallidan-clarify-omar-colley-transfer-talk |archive-date= 19 August 2014 }} so Colley instead moved to [Real de Banjul](/source/Real_de_Banjul_FC) where he helped the team become Gambian champions in 2012.{{cite web |url= http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/defender-omar-colley-signs-first-professional-contract |title= Defender Omar Colley signs first professional contract |publisher= [The Daily Observer](/source/The_Daily_Observer) |date= 28 January 2013 |access-date= 2 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130702163907/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/defender-omar-colley-signs-first-professional-contract |archive-date= 2 July 2013 }} ===KuPS=== In January 2013, he signed a two-year contract with [Kuopion Palloseura](/source/Kuopion_Palloseura) (KuPS) in Finnish [Veikkausliiga](/source/Veikkausliiga). During the time between his two seasons in Finland he trialed with a couple of [2. Bundesliga](/source/2._Bundesliga) clubs and [Arminia Bielefeld](/source/Arminia_Bielefeld) made an offer to buy Colley. An agreement was not reached however as they could not agree on the transfer fee.{{cite web |url= http://gambiasports.gm/index.php/football/1210-kups-reject-arminia-bielefeld-offer-for-omar-colley |archive-url= https://archive.today/20150118130646/http://gambiasports.gm/index.php/football/1210-kups-reject-arminia-bielefeld-offer-for-omar-colley |url-status=dead |archive-date= 18 January 2015 |title= KuPS reject Arminia Bielefeld offer for Omar Colley |publisher= Gambia Sports |date= 9 January 2014 |access-date= 15 January 2015 }} As his contract with the Finnish club was nearing the end Colley was described as "perhaps our best foreign signing ever" by the KuPS club president.{{cite web|url= http://www.fotbolldirekt.se/2014/09/26/nye-djurgardaren-ett-fysiskt-monster-snabbast-och-uthalligast-nagonsin/ |title= Nye djurgårdaren ett fysiskt monster: "Snabbast och uthålligast – någonsin" |publisher= FotbollDirekt |date= 26 September 2014 |access-date= 15 January 2015}} ===Djurgårdens IF and Genk=== In August 2014, Colley signed a three-year contract with Swedish side [Djurgårdens IF](/source/Djurg%C3%A5rdens_IF_Fotboll), starting the first of January 2015.{{cite web |url= http://gambiasports.gm/index.php/football/1458-omar-colley-leaves-kups-for-djurgarden |title= Omar Colley leaves KuPS for Djurgården |publisher= Gambia Sports |date= 13 August 2014 |access-date= 15 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20140815023716/http://gambiasports.gm/index.php/football/1458-omar-colley-leaves-kups-for-djurgarden |archive-date= 15 August 2014 }} He played his debut game for the club on 22 February 2015 against [Ängelholms FF](/source/%C3%84ngelholms_FF) in the [Swedish Cup](/source/Svenska_Cupen).{{cite web|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/svenska-cupen-herrar/grupp-7/?scr=result&fmid=2906562 |title= Djurgården - Ängelholms FF |date= 22 February 2015 | language = sv |access-date= 26 February 2015}} On 12 August 2016, Colley travelled to Belgium to complete a medical with top-tier club [K.R.C. Genk](/source/K.R.C._Genk) and by doing that Colley missed the training session ahead of the match versus [IF Elfsborg](/source/IF_Elfsborg) which was against the will of Djurgården.{{cite web|url=http://dif.se/ingen-omar-colley-mot-elfsborg/ |title= Frågetecken kring Omar Colley inför Elfsborg |date= 12 August 2016 | language = sv |access-date= 12 August 2016}} Later that day the Director of Sport of Djurgården [Bo Andersson](/source/Bo_Andersson_(footballer)) told the football site Fotbollskanalen.se that Djurgården were prepared to take the case to [FIFA](/source/FIFA) due to the fact that Genk without the permission and knowledge of Djurgården booked a flight and hotel for Colley which violated the contract between Colley and Djurgården. Andersson stated that Djurgården would refuse to sell Colley to Genk after that incident.{{cite web|url=http://www.fotbollskanalen.se/allsvenskan/djurgarden-vagrar-salja-colley-till-genk-beredda-ta-arendet-till-fifa/|title= Djurgården vägrar sälja Colley till Genk: "Beredda ta ärendet till Fifa" |date= 12 August 2016 | language = sv |access-date= 12 August 2016}} On 14 August, Colley started the match against IF Elfsborg on the bench due to the recent event.{{cite web|url=http://dif.se/forsta-krysset-mot-elfsborg/|title= Första krysset mot Elfsborg |work= DIF Fotboll |date= 14 August 2016 | language = sv |access-date= 15 August 2016}} The following day Colley was sold to Genk despite the promise not to sell Colley to Genk. The transfer sum was reported by the Swedish newspaper [Expressen](/source/Expressen) to be [€](/source/Euro)2 million and a resale clause which would make Colley the third most expensive defender ever sold by an [Allsvenskan](/source/Allsvenskan) team after former Djurgården player [Daniel Amartey](/source/Daniel_Amartey) and IF Elfsborg player [Jon Jönsson](/source/Jon_J%C3%B6nsson).{{cite web|url=http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/djurgarden-saljer-nu-omar-colley-till-genk/|title= Djurgården säljer nu Omar Colley till Genk |date= 15 August 2016 | language = sv |access-date= 15 August 2016}} === Sampdoria === On 19 June 2018, he signed for Italian club [Sampdoria](/source/U.C._Sampdoria).{{Cite web|url=http://www.legaseriea.it/it/sala-stampa/notizie/info/colley-e-blucerchiato-arriva-dal-genk-a-titolo-definitivo|title=COLLEY È BLUCERCHIATO: ARRIVA DAL GENK A TITOLO DEFINITIVO|website=legaseriea.it|language=it|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622091115/http://www.legaseriea.it/it/sala-stampa/notizie/info/colley-e-blucerchiato-arriva-dal-genk-a-titolo-definitivo|url-status=dead}} === Beşiktaş === On 9 February 2023, Turkish club [Beşiktaş](/source/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K.) announced the signing of Colley to a contract until the end of the 2024–25 season, with a conditional one-year extension option based on performance. The transfer fee announced was 2.3 million euros.{{cite web|publisher=Beşiktaş J.K.|url=https://bjk.com.tr/tr/haber/85602/omar-colleyin-transfer-sureci-tamamlandi.html|title=Omar Colley'in Transfer Süreci Tamamlandı|date=9 February 2023|access-date=10 February 2023|language=tr}} === Al-Diriyah === On 23 July 2025, Colley joined [Saudi First Division League](/source/Saudi_First_Division_League) club [Al-Diriyah](/source/Al-Diriyah_Club).{{cite web |title=Omar Colley and a new experience in Saudi Arabia: More details! |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/omar-colley-experience-saudi-arabia-113500944.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAE5FcGcyBhq82lfNm0bQSjyk9iyVYUe9x6yHZwFUU9ByqwLZex6ISbDuWwq0S0wWid0RO-_1G2O_NbINoidUDzdywXvzgLsGLZqi0k9In-QXbalxngbt8XlGyMYSURvu73OfD9hJmBTFofYPJ7wMa8XajtnXBsMOvVuD325LLAaJ}} ==International career== Colley was part of the [Gambia national under-17 football team](/source/Gambia_national_under-17_football_team) that won the [2009 African U-17 Championship](/source/2009_African_U-17_Championship) as well as the [Gambia national under-20 football team](/source/Gambia_national_under-20_football_team) that played in the [2011 African Youth Championship](/source/2011_African_Youth_Championship). In 2012, he made his debut for the senior [Gambia national team](/source/Gambia_national_football_team) in a friendly game against [Angola](/source/Angola_national_football_team).{{Cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/9537/Angola_Gambia.html|title=Angola vs. Gambia (1:1)|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|website=national-football-teams.com|language=en|access-date=14 March 2020}} He played in the [2021 Africa cup of Nations](/source/Africa_Cup_of_Nations), his national team's first continental tournament, where they made a sensational quarter-final.[https://www.cafonline.com/total-africa -cup-of-nations/matches/2021/2243295/lineups Line ups] cafonline.com{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/59746378 | title=The Gambia name squad for first Nations Cup finals | work=BBC Sport }} == Career statistics == ===Club=== {{updated|10 April 2025}} {| 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"|Cup{{efn|Includes [Suomen Cup](/source/Suomen_Cup), [Svenska Cupen](/source/Svenska_Cupen), [Belgian Cup](/source/Belgian_Cup), [Coppa Italia](/source/Coppa_Italia), [Turkish Cup](/source/Turkish_Cup)}} !colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Includes [Finnish League Cup](/source/Finnish_League_Cup) and [Turkish Super Cup](/source/Turkish_Super_Cup)}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |[Wallidan](/source/Wallidan_FC) |2011 |[GFA League First Division](/source/GFA_League_First_Division) |15||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||15||0 |- |[Real de Banjul](/source/Real_de_Banjul_FC) |2012 |GFA League First Division |17||1||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||17||1 |- |rowspan=3|[KuPS](/source/Kuopion_Palloseura) |[2013](/source/2013_Veikkausliiga) |[Veikkausliiga](/source/Veikkausliiga) |26||2||4||0||8||1||colspan=2|–||38||3 |- |[2014](/source/2014_Veikkausliiga) |Veikkausliiga |32||4||2||0||2||0||colspan=2|–||36||4 |- !colspan=2|Total !58!!6!!6!!0!!10!!1!!0!!0!!74!!7 |- |rowspan=3|[Djurgården](/source/Djurg%C3%A5rdens_IF_Fotboll) |[2015](/source/2015_Allsvenskan) |[Allsvenskan](/source/Allsvenskan) |27||3||3||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||30||3 |- |[2016](/source/2016_Allsvenskan) |Allsvenskan |17||2||3||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||20||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !44!!5!!6!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!50!!5 |- |rowspan=3|[Genk](/source/K.R.C._Genk) |[2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_Belgian_First_Division_A) |[Belgian First Division A](/source/Belgian_First_Division_A) |35||3||4||0||colspan=2|–||13{{efn|Appearances in [UEFA Europa League](/source/UEFA_Europa_League)|name=uel}}||1||52||4 |- |[2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_Belgian_First_Division_A) |Belgian First Division A |38||1||5||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||43||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !73!!4!!9!!0!!0!!0!!13!!1!!95!!5 |- |rowspan=6|[Sampdoria](/source/U.C._Sampdoria) |[2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_Serie_A) |[Serie A](/source/Serie_A) |21||0||2||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||23||0 |- |[2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_Serie_A) |Serie A |31||0||1||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||32||0 |- |[2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_Serie_A) |Serie A |29||2||1||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||30||2 |- |[2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Serie_A) |Serie A |32||0||1||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||33||0 |- |[2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Serie_A) |Serie A |16||1||2||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||18||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !129!!3!!7!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!136!!3 |- |rowspan=4|[Beşiktaş](/source/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K.) |[2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K._season) |[Süper Lig](/source/S%C3%BCper_Lig) |10||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||10||0 |- |[2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K._season) |Süper Lig |22||7||3||0||colspan=2|–||8{{efn|Appearances in [UEFA Conference League](/source/UEFA_Conference_League)|name=uecl}}||1||33||8 |- |[2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K._season) |Süper Lig |2||0||1||0|| colspan="2" |–|| colspan="2" |–||3||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !34!!7!!4!!0!!0!!0!!8!!1!!46!!8 |- |[PAOK](/source/PAOK_FC) |[2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_PAOK_FC_season) |[Super League Greece](/source/Super_League_Greece) |8||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||5{{efn|name=uel}}||0||13||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !378!!26!!32!!0!!10!!1!!26!!2!!446!!29 |} {{notelist}} ===International=== {{updated|match played 29 May 2026}}{{NFT player}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="14"|[Gambia](/source/Gambia_national_football_team) |2012||1||0 |- |2013||5||0 |- |2015||2||0 |- |2016||3||0 |- |2017||2||0 |- |2018||1||0 |- |2019||8||0 |- |2020||3||0 |- |2021||7||0 |- |2022||10||0 |- |2023||6||1 |- |2024||10||0 |- |2025||5||0 |- |2026||2||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!65!!3 |} :''As of match played 29 May 2026. Gambia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Colley goal.'' {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Omar Colley !scope=col|No. !scope=col|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- |align=center|1||28 March 2023||[Stade Mohammed V](/source/Stade_Mohammed_V), [Casablanca](/source/Casablanca), Morocco||{{fb|MLI}}||align=center|'''1'''–0||align=center|1–0||[2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification](/source/2023_Africa_Cup_of_Nations_qualification_Group_G) |- |align=center|2||31 March 2026||[Diamniadio Olympic Stadium](/source/Diamniadio_Olympic_Stadium), [Diamniadio](/source/Diamniadio), Senegal||{{fb|SEN}}||align=center|'''1'''–2||align=center|1–3||[Friendly](/source/Exhibition_game) |- |align=center|3 ||29 May 2026||[Mardan Sports Complex](/source/Mardan_Sports_Complex), [Antalya](/source/Antalya), Turkey||{{fb|IRI}}||style="text-align:center"|'''1'''–0|| style="text-align:center"|1–3||Friendly |} ==Honours== '''Beşiktaş''' *[Turkish Cup](/source/Turkish_Cup): [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Turkish_Cup) *[Turkish Super Cup](/source/Turkish_Super_Cup): [2024](/source/2024_Turkish_Super_Cup){{cite news|url=https://www.turkiyetoday.com/sports/besiktas-claims-turkcell-super-cup-with-5-0-win-over-galatasaray-35863/|title=Besiktas claims Turkcell Super Cup with 5-0 win over Galatasaray|website=Türkiye Today|date=3 August 2024|access-date=3 August 2024}} '''Gambia U17''' *[African U-17 Championship](/source/Africa_U-17_Cup_of_Nations): [2009](/source/2009_African_U-17_Championship) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{Soccerway|omar-colley/246644}} {{Al-Diriyah Club squad}} {{Navboxes | title = Gambia squads | bg = #0C1C8C | fg = white | bordercolor = #CE1126 | list = {{Gambia squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{Gambia squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}} }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Colley, Omar}} Category:1992 births Category:Footballers from Banjul Category:Gambian Muslims Category:Living people Category:Gambian men's footballers Category:The Gambia men's youth international footballers Category:The Gambia men's international footballers Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:Wallidan FC players Category:Real de Banjul FC players Category:Kuopion Palloseura players Category:Djurgårdens IF Fotboll players Category:KRC Genk players Category:UC Sampdoria players Category:Beşiktaş J.K. footballers Category:PAOK FC players Category:Diriyah Club players Category:Veikkausliiga players Category:Allsvenskan players Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:Serie A players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Super League Greece players Category:GFA League First Division players Category:Saudi First Division League players Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:Gambian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Finland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Sweden Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Greece Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Omar Colley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Colley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Colley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.