Ousmane Sylla (Senegalese footballer)

For the midfielder born 1990, see Ousmane Sylla (Burkinabé footballer).

Ousmane Sylla

Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-08-07) August 7, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Dakar, Senegal
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Clemson Tigers	71	(24)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2024	Houston Dynamo	0	(0)
2024	→ Houston Dynamo 2 (loan)	24	(7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2024

Ousmane Sylla (born 7 August 2001) is a Senegalese footballer. He played college soccer for the Clemson Tigers, winning the 2023 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate men's player that season.

Early life

Sylla was born in Dakar, Senegal. ^[1] He eventually moved to the United States, where he attended Montverde Academy and played for their SIMA soccer program. ^[2]

College career

In 2020, he committed to attend Clemson University to play for the men's soccer team, ^[3] however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he began attending in January 2021. ^[4] He made his collegiate debut on 7 March 2021, starting against the Syracuse Orange. ^[5] On 13 March 2021, he scored his first collegiate goal, netting the overtime winner in a 1–0 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies, ^[6] which earned him NCAA Division I men's Player of the Week honors. ^[7] At the end of his first season, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team. ^[8] After his sophomore season, he was named to the All-ACC Second Team and the All-South Region Second Team. ^{[9] [10]} On 26 August 2022, he scored a brace in a 3–2 victory in the season opener against the Indiana Hoosiers, ^[11] which earned him ACC co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. ^[12] Sylla received first-team All-ACC and second-team All-South Region honors for the season, ^{[13] [14]} and was invited to participate in the MLS College Showcase. ^[15]

Ahead of his senior season, Sylla was named to the ACC Preseason Watch List. ^[16] On 29 September 2023, he scored a winning goal with four seconds remaining in the match to lead Clemson to a 3–2 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies, ^[17] subsequently being named to the National Team of the Week, ^[18] an honour he received another four times that season. ^[19] The following week, he was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week. ^[20] He helped the team win the national title, being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player and being selected to the All-Tournament Team. ^[21] At the end of the season, he was named a first-team All-American and won the 2023 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate player. ^{[19] [22]}

Club career

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Sylla was selected in the second round (55th overall) by Houston Dynamo FC. In February 2024, he signed a professional contract with the club for the 2024 season, with options through 2027. ^[23] He made his professional debut on March 13, 2024, for the Dynamo in a 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup match against the Columbus Crew. ^[24] On 7 November 2024, his contract option was declined by Houston following their 2024 season. ^[25]

Career statistics

As of May 8, 2024 ^[26]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		Domestic Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Houston Dynamo FC	2024	Major League Soccer	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Houston Dynamo 2	2024	MLS Next Pro	6	1	0	0	–		–		6	1
Career total			6	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	7	1

Honours

Clemson University

• NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament: 2023

References

1. Holley, Steve (5 January 2024). "Clemson's Ousmane Sylla Earns NCAA Soccer's Highest Honor". USA Today .
2. "SIMA Alum Ousmane Sylla '20 Wins MAC Hermann Trophy". Montverde Academy . 8 January 2024.
3. "Men's soccer adds three to 2020 recruiting class". Clemson Tigers . 12 May 2020.
4. "Ousmane Sylla Clemson profile". Clemson Tigers .
5. "Johnson's brace, Reid's first career goal lead no. 1 Clemson to victory". Clemson Tigers . 7 March 2021.
6. "Sylla's overtime goal secures 1-0 victory for no. 1 Clemson". Clemson Tigers . 13 March 2021.
7. "Clemson remains atop national rankings, Sylla named player of the week". Clemson Tigers . 16 March 2021.
8. "Nine Tigers garner ACC men's soccer recognition Wednesday". Clemson Tigers . 14 April 2021.
9. "Five Tigers garner All-ACC honors". Clemson Tigers . 10 November 2021.
10. "Four Tigers named to All-South Region team". Clemson Tigers . 21 December 2021.
11. "Sylla's brace lifts no. 1 Tigers over no. 13 Indiana on opening night". Clemson Tigers . 26 August 2022.
12. "Sylla collects player of the week honors". Clemson Tigers . 30 August 2022.
13. "Four Tigers garner conference honors". Clemson Tigers . 9 November 2022.
14. "Diop and Sylla earn All-South Region nods". Clemson Tigers . 6 December 2022.
15. "Diop, Reid and Sylla to participate in MLS College Showcase". Clemson Tigers . 9 December 2022.
16. "Sylla named to ACC preseason watch list; Clemson tabbed as ACC favorite". Clemson Tigers . 16 August 2023.
17. "Sylla's last-second goal propels Tigers to victory". Clemson Tigers . 29 September 2023.
18. "Sylla named to the College Soccer News men's national team of the week". Clemson Tigers . 3 October 2023.
19. "Ousmane Sylla: A year to remember". Clemson Tigers . 2 January 2024.
20. "Ousmane Sylla named ACC Offensive Player of the Week". Clemson Tigers . 10 October 2023.
21. "Clemson United wins fourth national championship". Clemson Tigers . 11 December 2023.
22. Keepfer, Scott (5 January 2024). "Clemson's Ousmane Sylla wins Hermann Trophy as college soccer player of the year". The Greenville News .
23. "Houston Dynamo FC sign MF Ousmane Sylla to professional contract". Houston Dynamo FC . 24 February 2024.
24. "Three Clemson United Alums Make Professional Debuts". Clemson Tigers . 13 March 2024.
25. "Houston Dynamo FC announce roster decisions following the 2024 season". Houston Dynamo FC .
26. Ousmane Sylla at Soccerway

External links

• Ousmane Sylla at Soccerway