Joachim Kayi Sanda

Joachim Kayi Sanda

Personal information
Date of birth	(2006-11-29) 29 November 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	Antony, France
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Red Star (on loan from Southampton)
Youth career
2012–2018	Antony Sports
2018–2020	Antony Evolution
2020–2021	A.C.B.B.
2021–2023	Valenciennes
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2025	Valenciennes II	4	(0)
2023–2025	Valenciennes	31	(0)
2025–	Southampton	2	(0)
2025–	→ Red Star (loan)	0	(0)
International career
2022	France U16	2	(1)
2022–	France U17	14	(0)
2023–	France U18	8	(1)
Medal record Men's football Representing   France FIFA U-17 World Cup Runner-up 2023 Indonesia UEFA European Under-17 Championship Runner-up 2023 Hungary
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:57, 25 May 2025 (UTC)

Joachim Kayi Sanda (born 29 November 2006) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 2 club Red Star, on loan from EFL Championship club Southampton.

Club career

Valenciennes

From Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, ^[1] in September 2023 he signed a three-year professional contract with Valenciennes FC. ^[2] He made his debut for the Valenciennes first team in Ligue 2 on 21 October 2023, starting against Grenoble Foot 38. ^[3] In doing so, aged 16 years-old and ten months, he became the youngest player in club history. ^{[4] [5]}

Southampton

On 9 January 2025, he joined Premier League club Southampton on a four-year contract. ^[6] He made his debut for the club on 18 May in a 2–0 defeat against Everton after he replaced Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the 82nd minute. ^[7]

On 25 August 2025, Kayi Sanda joined French side Red Star on a season-long loan. ^[8]

International career

Born in France, Kayi Sanda is of DR Congolese descent. ^[9] He captained France U17 to the finals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where France reached the final after making the quarter-finals without conceding a goal. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Career statistics

As of match played 25 May 2025 ^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Valenciennes II	2022–23	Championnat National 3	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
	2023–24	Championnat National 3	3	0	—		—		—		3	0
	Total		4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Valenciennes	2023–24	Ligue 2	20	0	5	0	—		—		25	0
	2024–25	Championnat National	11	0	1	0	—		—		12	0
	Total		31	0	6	0	—		—		37	0
Southampton	2024–25 [14]	Premier League	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2025–26 [15]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	0	0	—		2	0
Red Star (loan)	2025–26	Ligue 2	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
Career total			37	0	6	0	0	0	—		43	0

Honours

U17 France

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship runner-up: 2023 ^[16]
• FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 2023 ^[17]

References

1. Quarez, Benjamin (18 November 2023). "From Antony to Indonesia via Valenciennes, Joachim Kayi Sanda in the footsteps of Dayot Upamecano". Le Parisien. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
2. "Joachim Kayi Sanda (16 years old) signs pro in Valenciennes". L'Équipe. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
3. "GRENOBLE FOOT 38 VS. VALENCIENNES 3 – 3". Soccerway. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
4. "VALENCIENNES: JOACHIM KAYI SANDA BREAKS A PRECOCITY RECORD". Foot-National. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
5. "VAFC: Joachim Kayi Sanda, a great first which is already a landmark". lavoixdunord.fr. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
6. "Kayi Sanda becomes a Saint". Southampton FC. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
7. "Report: Saints beaten by Everton in Goodison Park farewell". Southampton FC. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
8. "Kayi Sanda heads out on loan". Southampton FC. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
9. Tahiana, Jésé (27 March 2024). "Joachim Kayi Sanda pourrait rejoindre un club anglais".
10. Karlsen, Tor-Kristian (23 November 2023). "Which players have impressed at the U-17 World Cup?". ESPN. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
11. "Kayi Sanda: 'We knew we could come back'". UEFA. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
12. "Kayi Sanda explains switching Valenciennes for Southampton". Daily Echo. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
13. "J.Kayi Sanda". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
14. "Games played by Joachim Kayi Sanda in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
15. "Games played by Joachim Kayi Sanda in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
16. "Germany take title with shoot-out win over France". UEFA. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
17. "Germany win FIFA U-17 World Cup after shootout drama". FIFA. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.

External links

• Joachim Kayi Sanda at the French Football Federation (in French)