Nathan Zézé
French footballer (born 2005)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nathan Zézé (born 18 June 2005) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Neom.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 June 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Nantes, France | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Neom | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2013 | US Loire-et-Divatte | ||
| 2013–2023 | Nantes | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Nantes B | 28 | (1) |
| 2023–2025 | Nantes | 32 | (0) |
| 2025– | Neom | 31 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021 | France U17 | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | France U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | France U21 | 8 | (3) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:37, 28 July 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:37, 28 July 2026 (UTC) | |||
Early life
Having grown up in La Varenne, just North-East of the Nantes Metropolis, Nathan Zézé joined the Nantes Academy as an under-9.[2]
Club career
Growing through the youth ranks of the team from Brittany, Zézé came to captain its under-17 and under-19 sides,[2] despite being the youngest on the pitch when he first captained the latter in 2021.[3] During the 2021–22 season he helped the under-19s to a national title, qualifying them for the European Youth League.[3]
At the start of the 2022–23 season, Zézé moved to the reserve National 2 team, whilst also playing the UEFA Youth League.[2][4]
Having already appeared on the team sheet in Ligue 1 against Auxerre during the previous encounter,[5][6] Zézé made his professional debut for Nantes on the 7 January 2023, during the 2–0 away Coupe de France win to AF Virois. He replaced an injured Nicolas Pallois before half-time, as his team had just scored its first goal, Zézé helping them to keep a clean-sheet for the rest of the game.[5][7][8]
On 28 July 2025, Zézé joined Saudi Pro League club Neom.[9]
International career
Born in France, Zézé is of Ivorian descent through his father.[10] He is a youth international for France, having played with France under-17s until 2021,[3][11] before being selected with the under-18 for the Tournoi de Limoges the following year.[12]
Style of play
A left-footed centre-back, Zézé has been described as a tall defender with good positioning and anticipation, capable in aerial duels and comfortable in possession, including with both short and long passes.[2][3]
Career statistics
- As of match played 17 May 2025
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nantes B | 2022–23 | CFA 2 | 22 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | National 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | National 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 28 | 1 | — | — | 28 | 1 | ||||
| Nantes | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| Total | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 70 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 1 | ||
