Nicolas Nkoulou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Nicolas Nkoulou

Nkoulou with Cameroon in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth	(1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth	Yaoundé, Cameroon
Height	1.85 m
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Amed SK
Number	36
Youth career
	Kadji Sports Academy
2007–2008	Monaco
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2008–2011	Monaco	78	(0)
2011–2016	Marseille	162	(5)
2016–2018	Lyon	13	(0)
2017–2018	→ Torino (loan)	37	(2)
2018–2021	Torino	85	(4)
2021–2022	Watford	3	(0)
2022–2023	Aris	17	(1)
2023–2024	Gaziantep	32	(2)
2024–	Amed S.K.	13	(0)
National team‡
2008	Cameroon U23	3	(0)
2008–	Cameroon	83	(2)
Honours Men's football Representing  Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations Winner 2017
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 December 2024. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 June 2023

Nicolas Julio Nkoulou Ndoubena, known as Nicolas Nkoulou, was born on March 27, 1990. He is a professional footballer from Cameroon. Nicolas plays as a centre-back for the Turkish club Amed SK. He also plays for the Cameroon national team.

Nicolas started his career in France with Monaco. He played there for three years. In 2011, he joined Marseille. With Marseille, he won his first big trophy, the Coupe de la Ligue in the 2011–12 season. In 2016, he moved to Lyon. After one year, he went to the Italian club Torino, first on loan, then permanently.

Nicolas later played for Watford in England. He then moved to Aris in Greece and Gaziantep in Turkey. He is now with Amed SK.

For his country, Nicolas played 75 games for Cameroon between 2008 and 2017. He helped them win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017. He even scored the goal that tied the game in the final match! He has played for Cameroon in three World Cups and three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. In 2022, he was called back to the national team after five years.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Monaco

Nicolas Nkoulou began his football journey at the Kadji Sports Academy in Douala, Cameroon. This academy is famous for training many great players. Some famous players from there include Samuel Eto'o and Carlos Kameni.

In 2007, Nicolas joined the French club AS Monaco. He signed a three-year professional contract. He first played with Monaco's reserve team. Then, in July 2008, he joined the main team for pre-season training.

Nicolas played his first professional game on September 13, 2008. It was a 2–0 win against Lorient. He played 24 games in his first season. In the 2009–10 season, he often played as a defensive midfielder. He also signed a new contract, keeping him at Monaco until 2012.

Nicolas played in the Coupe de France Final in 2010. Monaco lost 1–0 to PSG. He played 23 games that season. In the 2010–11 season, he played 30 games despite some injuries. Monaco was then moved down to a lower league. Many top players, including Nicolas, were expected to leave.

Many big European clubs noticed Nicolas's skills. Teams like Arsenal, Sevilla, and Atlético Madrid were interested. During his time at Monaco, Nicolas played 78 games. He played every minute of those games.

Moving to Marseille

Nicolas Nkoulou training at Marseille.

On June 29, 2011, Nicolas Nkoulou joined Marseille. He signed a four-year contract for €3.5 million. Both Marseille and Lyon wanted to sign him. Nicolas chose Marseille.

He made his debut for Marseille on August 14, 2011. It was a 2–2 draw against Auxerre. He also played his first Champions League game on September 13, 2011. Marseille won 1–0 against Olympiacos. His great play in October earned him the club's Player of the Month award.

Nicolas helped Marseille win the Coupe de la Ligue final in 2012. They beat Lyon 1–0. This was Marseille's first trophy since 1981. Nicolas was named Man of the Match. He played 46 games that season. He was also named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. He won the 2011–12 Olympique de Marseille Player of the Season award.

In the 2012–13 season, Nicolas stayed with Marseille despite money problems at the club. He played every league game that season. On March 3, 2013, he scored his first goal for Marseille. It was in a 2–1 win against Troyes. He was again named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

Nicolas Nkoulou training at Marseille in 2012.

Before the 2013–14 season, Nicolas thought about leaving Marseille. His old club Monaco and Arsenal were interested. But he stayed with Marseille. He scored two goals later that season. He played 46 games and scored twice in total.

In the 2014–15 season, Nicolas scored his first goal on October 19, 2014. It was in a 2–0 win against Toulouse. Two weeks later, he scored again against Lens. He played 26 games that season due to injuries and playing for Cameroon. He helped Marseille finish fourth in the league.

His contract was ending after the 2015–16 season. On January 29, 2016, Nicolas was captain for Marseille for the first time. This was during a 1–1 draw against Lille. He played in the Coupe de France Final, which Marseille lost 4–2 to PSG. He played 41 games that season.

Time at Lyon

After five years at Marseille, Nicolas Nkoulou joined their rivals, Lyon. He signed a four-year contract on June 29, 2016. He said he joined Lyon to achieve bigger things. He was given the number 3 shirt.

Nicolas played his first official game for Lyon in the Trophée des Champions. Lyon lost 4–1 to Paris Saint–Germain. A week later, he made his league debut in a 3–0 win over Nancy. When he played against Marseille for the first time, their fans booed him. His performance at Lyon was sometimes criticized.

Playing for Torino

On August 5, 2017, Nicolas joined the Italian club Torino. He first joined on a one-year loan. He played his first game on August 11, 2017, in the Coppa Italia. Torino won 7–1 against Trapani. His first game in Serie A was on August 20, against Bologna.

He scored his first goal for Torino on December 2, in a 1–1 draw against Atalanta. Fans voted him as Torino's best player for the 2017–18 season. Torino then bought his contract permanently for €3.5 million.

On September 2, 2018, he scored his first goal of the 2018–19 season. It was a winning header against SPAL. In August 2019, Nicolas wanted to leave Torino and join AS Roma. He even asked not to play in some games. But the transfer did not happen. He later apologized to the fans and his teammates. He left Torino in 2021 when his contract ended.

Later Clubs

After leaving Torino, Nicolas Nkoulou joined the English club Watford on October 7, 2021. He signed a deal until the end of the season. He played only three games for Watford. After the 2021–22 season, Watford was moved to a lower league. Nicolas then left the club.

On August 23, 2022, Nicolas joined the Greek club Aris. He signed a two-year contract. He played 17 games for Aris and scored one goal.

On September 11, 2023, Nicolas moved to the Turkish club Gaziantep. He signed a one-year contract. He played 32 games for Gaziantep. He is now playing for Amed SK in Turkey.

International Career

Nicolas Nkoulou was part of the Cameroon U-23 team. They played in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He helped his team reach the knockout stage. They were then knocked out by Brazil.

Nicolas Nkoulou (right) watching his teammate Landry N'Guémo playing against Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Nicolas was first called up to the senior national team on November 4, 2008. He made his international debut on November 19, 2008. It was a friendly game against South Africa, which Cameroon lost 3–2.

He was chosen for the 2010 African Cup of Nations and played four games. Later in 2010, Nicolas was called up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played his first World Cup game against Japan. He played all three group stage matches in the World Cup. Cameroon was eliminated in the group stage.

Nicolas became the temporary captain of Cameroon. This happened after the main captain, Samuel Eto'o, was suspended. Nicolas captained his first national game in a 1–0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

In late 2012, Nicolas was made the new captain of Cameroon. This was after Samuel Eto'o decided not to return to the team. Nicolas was part of the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He played all three matches and remained captain. Cameroon struggled and was eliminated early. The next year, he played in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

On March 26, 2016, Nicolas scored his first goal for Cameroon. It was a 2–2 draw against South Africa. This was the same team he played against in his debut eight years earlier.

His most famous international goal was against Egypt in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Final. He scored the goal that tied the game. Cameroon went on to win the match 2–1, becoming champions of Africa.

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Algeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nkoulou goal

List of international goals scored by Nicolas Nkoulou

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	26 March 2016	Limbe Stadium, Limbe, Cameroon	South Africa	2–2	2–2	2017 Africa Cup of National qualification
2.	5 February 2017	Stade de l'Amitié, Libreville, Gabon	Egypt	1–1	2–1	2017 Africa Cup of Nations final

Honours

Marseille

• Coupe de la Ligue: 2011–12

Cameroon

• Africa Cup of Nations: 2017

Individual

• Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2011–12, 2012–13

See also

In Spanish: Nicolas N'Koulou para niños