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 22)
Place of birth	Dakar, Senegal
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Houston Dynamo
Number	26
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)	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 April 2024

Ousmane Sylla (born 7 August 2001) is a Senegalese footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo FC.

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] After the season, he was named to the All-ACC First Team and All-South Region Second Team, ^{[13] [14]} and was also 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 Plyer 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 to the All-ACC First Team, All-South Region First Team, the ACC All-Tournament Team, and a First Team All-American. ^{[22] [23] [19]} He was also named the winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate player that season. ^{[24] [25] [26]}

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. ^[27]

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. "Five Tigers earn All-Conference honors". Clemson Tigers . 8 November 2023.
23. "Sylla named United Soccer Coaches All-American". Clemson Tigers . 8 December 2023.
24. "Sylla named MAC Hermann Trophy winner". Clemson Tigers . 5 January 2024.
25. Keepfer, Scott (5 January 2024). "Clemson's Ousmane Sylla wins Hermann Trophy as college soccer player of the year". The Greenville News .
26. Ross, Mariah (5 January 2024). "Clemson's Ousmane Sylla receives high honor". WSPA-TV .
27. "Houston Dynamo FC sign MF Ousmane Sylla to professional contract". Houston Dynamo FC . 24 February 2024.

External links

• Ousmane Sylla at Soccerway