Yaya Sanogo

Yaya Sanogo (born 27 January 1993) is a French professional footballer who last played as a striker for Championship side Huddersfield Town. He has also played for Auxerre, Arsenal and Toulouse, and spent loan spells with Crystal Palace, Ajax and Charlton Athletic. He is a French youth international, and was a member of the side that won the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Club Career

Auxerre

Sanogo was born in Massy, Essonne. After failing to earn selection into the prestigious Clairefontaine academy, Sanogo joined another local Parisian club CO Les Ulis, the same club that produced France national team's all-time leading goalscorer Thierry Henry. He spent only a year at the club before being signed up on an aspirant (youth) contract with first division club Auxerre at age 13. Sanogo quickly established himself in the club's youth system scoring 25 goals in 14 matches and also providing 17 assists in the 2006–07 edition of the Championnat Federal des 14 ans. While playing with the under-16 team, the following season, in the Championnat National des 16 ans, Sanogo averaged a goal a game. Alongside his positive displays domestically, Sanogo's prolific scoring on the international stage led to him being declared Auxerre's best overall prospect. He drew the interest of Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur before signing his first professional contract for three years on 27 October 2009.

Sanogo was not immediately promoted to the senior team and, instead, began the season playing in the Championnat National des 18 ans with the Auxerre under-18 team. On 10 October 2009, Sanogo was promoted to the team's Championnat de France Amateur team making his debut in a 2–1 loss to Pontivy. He scored his first CFA goal two weeks later in a 3–2 defeat to Romorantin.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Яя Саного (russian)