Sékou Mara
French footballer (born 2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sékou Mara (born 30 July 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.
|
Mara in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 July 2002[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Paris, France | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Auxerre (on loan from Strasbourg) | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2014 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| 2014–2017 | Boulogne-Billancourt | ||
| 2017–2021 | Bordeaux | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2020 | Bordeaux B | 14 | (5) |
| 2020–2022 | Bordeaux | 34 | (7) |
| 2022–2024 | Southampton | 50 | (4) |
| 2024– | Strasbourg | 25 | (1) |
| 2025–2026 | → Auxerre (loan) | 27 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | France U16 | 2 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | France U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | France U20 | 10 | (6) |
| 2021–2023 | France U21 | 4 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 May 2026 | |||
Mara is a product of the Bordeaux academy and made his professional debut for the club in February 2021. He moved to English club Southampton in July 2022 before returning to France with Strasbourg in August 2024. Mara spent the 2025–26 season on loan at Auxerre. He has represented his country at youth levels.
Club career
Bordeaux
Mara made his professional debut for Bordeaux in a 2–0 Coupe de France loss to Toulouse on 10 February 2021.[3] He scored his first professional goal in a 1–0 Ligue 1 win over Rennes on 2 May 2021. By scoring this goal, he became the youngest player to score a league goal for Bordeaux in almost 14 years.[4]
Southampton
On 21 July 2022, it was confirmed by Bordeaux that they had accepted an offer from Southampton for Mara, and that the deal was subject to a medical.[5] On 25 July 2022, Southampton confirmed that Mara had signed a four-year deal with the club.[6] On 13 August 2022, Mara made his first Premier League appearance in Southampton’s 2–2 draw with Leeds United after he replaced Jan Bednarek.[7] On 11 January 2023, Mara scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 quarter final EFL Cup victory against Manchester City.[8] On 8 April 2023, Mara scored his first Premier League goal in a 1–4 defeat against Manchester City.[9]
On 13 April 2024, he came on as a substitute for Ché Adams in the 80th minute of a 3–2 victory against Watford.[10] Shortly afterwards, Mara struck Ryan Porteous in an unpunished off-the-ball incident.[11] On 16 April 2024, the Football Association gave Mara a three-match suspension for violent conduct.[12]
Strasbourg
On 21 August 2024, Mara joined Strasbourg on a five-year contract.[13][14] On 5 September 2025, Mara was loaned by Auxerre, also in Ligue 1.[15]
International career
Personal life
Mara's mother, Audrey Crespo-Mara, is a French journalist and television presenter,[17] and his father, Aliou Mara, is a Senegalese entrepreneur.[18]
Career statistics
- As of match played 17 May 2026[19]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bordeaux B | 2019–20 | Championnat National 3 | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | 11 | 5 | |||
| 2020–21 | Championnat National 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 14 | 5 | — | — | — | 14 | 5 | |||||
| Bordeaux | 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 6 | |||
| Total | 34 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 7 | ||||
| Southampton | 2022–23[20] | Premier League | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 30 | 2 | |
| 2023–24[21] | Championship | 28 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 34 | 6 | |
| 2024–25[22] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 50 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 8 | ||
| Strasbourg | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| 2025–26 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2026–27 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 25 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||||
| Auxerre (loan) | 2025–26 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 150 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 168 | 26 | ||
- Appearance in Championship play-offs
Honours
Individual
- Maurice Revello Tournament Golden Boot: 2022
- Maurice Revello Tournament Silver Ball: 2022
- Maurice Revello Tournament Best XI: 2022[23]
