The greatest Malian players in Premier League history

Time Stamp: February 20, 2022 2:30 AM

Many African countries have benefitted from historic lineages to Europe and Mali is no exception. The West African nation enjoyed many cultural influences from France and this included passing down their love for football. It’s no wonder then that plenty of Malian players have appeared in top European leagues such as the Premier League. Over the past three decades, 16 Mali internationals have appeared in the English topflight with varying degrees of success. But who are the  greatest Malian players in Premier League history?

 

Freddie Kanoute (West Ham, Spurs)

A slippery customer for defences to handle, Freddie Kanoute proved himself to be a capable forward of operating at the highest level. The French-born striker brought pace and style to his gameplay exciting fans after joining West Ham from Lyon in 1999. In his first two seasons, Kanoute’s precise finishing saw him notch back-to-back double figure tallies scoring 11 goals both times. With the ability to score regularly at a high level, Kanoute switched sides moving to London rivals Spurs in 2003. Kanoute continued to continue his scoring feat with Spurs and score 29 goals for them across three seasons in North London. However, this rich vein of form caught the eye of Sevilla who prized him from England in 2005 – just months after Kanoute debuted for Mali. It was there when he became a truly elite striker in Europe but still is remembered fondly for his efforts in English football.

 

Djimi Traore (Liverpool, Charlton, Portsmouth)

A versatile and passionate defender, Djimi Traore overcame a slow start in English football to enjoy nearly a decade within the Premier League. Emerging through Liverpool’s youth system, Traore’s ability to play either as a left back or centre-back made him a useful squad member. His pace and passing abilities were backed up with an excellent aerial presence that made him stand out from his contemporaries. It was why he became a regular fixture in Liverpool’s backline throughout the early 2000s. As game time became harder to find at Anfield, Traore switched to Charlton and then Portsmouth in bids to regain a regular spot. Despite some fleeting glimpses with both sides, Traore didn’t enjoy the same levels of success and eventually left Portsmouth in 200 9 to join Monaco in Ligue 1. Unbelievably, Traore never scored once in English football in over 100 games in the Premier League and would only score once in his entre 15 year career spanning 250 games.

 

Mohamed Sissoko (Liverpool)

Mohamed Sissoko may not be a household name but he was a part of a Liverpool midfield that shone in the mid-2000s. Sissoko joined Liverpool in 2005 after impressing with Valencia in Spain. His ability to drive forward with the ball made him a real asset in a Liverpool team that liked to put their opponents under pressure. He also had a strong physical presence making him an ideal midfield anchor to have too when it was necessary. His best moment came in 2006 when he was named Man of the Match in the Community Shield triumph and made other European giants take notice. It was no surprise then that he would leave just one year later in 2007 when Juventus signed him ending his short three year stay in England.

 

Moussa Djenepo (Southampton)

One of the few players actually born in Mali to play in the Premier League, Moussa Djenepo has slowly grown into a technically proficient attacking player. Capable of playing centrally or out wide, Djenepo’s technical skillset and pace has allowed him to become shine in the Premier League. The Malian winger didn’t take long to make an impact for Southampton after joining from Standard Liege in 2019. Just a few games into the season, he scored a thunderbolt against Sheffield United which was voted Goal of the Month. Since then, Djenepo has been a creative outlet for The Saints helping them solidify their position within the Premier League.

 

Yves Bissouma (Brighton)

For the past few seasons, Yves Bissouma has been seen as one of the most underrated midfielders in English football. His excellent passing and dribbling skills marked with a strong presence has enabled the Mali international to flourish in the centre of the park and be one of the shining stars for Brighton. Having moved to Sussex in 2018 from French side Lille, Bissouma has been very much an integral part of all promising moves that The Seagulls generate. It’s why he has gained regular attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs and looks let set to shine at the highest levels of English football for many seasons to come.

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