Assan Torrez Ceesay (born 17 March 1994) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Damac and the Gambia national team.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Assan Torrez Ceesay | ||
| Date of birth | 17 March 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Banjul, The Gambia | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1][2] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Damac | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2014 | Gamtel Banjul | 3 | (3) |
| 2014–2015 | Casa Sports | ||
| 2015–2016 | ASC Niarry Tally | ||
| 2016 | Lugano II | 12 | (12) |
| 2016–2018 | Lugano | 17 | (3) |
| 2017–2018 | → Chiasso (loan) | 31 | (8) |
| 2018–2022 | Zürich | 99 | (26) |
| 2020 | → VfL Osnabrück (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Lecce | 34 | (6) |
| 2023– | Damac | 19 | (6) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Gambia U17 | 2 | (0) | |
| Gambia U20 | 8 | (3) | |
| Gambia U23 | 5 | (2) | |
| 2013– | Gambia | 41 | (13) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:23, 16 February 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 January 2024 | |||
Club career
editIn January 2020, Ceesay joined 2. Bundesliga side VfL Osnabrück, on loan from Swiss Super League club FC Zürich.[3]
Assan had his highlight while playing with FC Zürich in the 2021–22 Swiss Super League where he helped the team win the title by scoring 20 goals and ending the season as 2nd best top-scorer of the league that season,[4] and in third place as best assistant.[5] This made him one of best players of the Swiss League and called the attention of many clubs worldwide to sign him.
On 16 June 2022, Ceesay agreed to join newly promoted Serie A club Lecce on a two-year contract, with the option of a third, from 1 July when his contract with FC Zürich would expire.[6][7] On 14 August 2022, Ceesay scored on his league debut as Lecce was condemned to a 1-2 defeat against Inter Milan at Stadio Via del mare.[8]
On 15 August 2023, Ceesay joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal on a three-year deal.[9]
International career
editCeesay played in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, his national team's first continental tournament, where they made it to quarter-finals.[10][11]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 4 December 2023[12]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lugano II | 2015–16 | 2. Liga Interregional | 12 | 12 | — | — | 12 | 12 | ||
| Lugano | 2016–17 | Swiss Super League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | |
| 2018–19 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | |||
| Total | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | ||
| Chiasso (loan) | 2017–18 | Swiss Challenge League | 31 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 8 | |
| Zürich | 2018–19 | Swiss Super League | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
| 2019–20 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 33 | 3 | |||
| 2021–22 | 33 | 20 | 2 | 2 | — | 35 | 22 | |||
| Total | 99 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 112 | 31 | ||
| VfL Osnabrück (loan) | 2019–20 | 2. Bundesliga | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | |
| Lecce | 2022–23 | Serie A | 34 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 6 | |
| Damac | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 14 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - | 16 | 7 | |
| Career total | 218 | 62 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 236 | 69 | ||
International
edit- Scores and results list Gambia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ceesay goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 March 2018 | Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia |  Central African Republic |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 8 September 2018 | Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia |  Algeria |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3 | 12 October 2018 | Stade Général Eyadema, Lomé, Togo |  Togo |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4 | 10 September 2019 | Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola |  Angola |
1–1 | 1–2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 13 November 2019 | Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola | Angola |
1–1 | 3–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 6 | 2–1 | |||||
| 7 | 9 October 2020 | Estádio Municipal Bela Vista, Parchal, Portugal |  Congo |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 8 | 25 March 2021 | Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia | Angola |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 9 | 9 October 2021 | Stade El Abdi, El Jadida, Morocco |  Sierra Leone |
1–0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 10 | 12 October 2021 | Stade El Abdi, El Jadida, Morocco |  South Sudan |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 2–0 | |||||
| 12 | 29 March 2022 | Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco |  Chad |
1–1 | 2–2 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 13 | 2–1 |
Honours
editGamtel Banjul
- Gambian Cup: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013[14]
ASC Niarry Tally
- Senegal FA Cup: 2016[14]
FC Zürich
References
edit- ^ a b Assan Ceesay at Soccerway
- ^ Assan Ceesay at WorldFootball.net
- ^ P.M. (23 January 2020). "Neuzugang aus der Schweiz: VfL Osnabrück leiht Assan Ceesay aus". Hasepost (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ Torschützenliste 2021/22
- ^ Assistliste 2021/22
- ^ "UFFICIALE L'ACQUISIZIONE DI ASSAN CEESAY" [THE ACQUISITION OF ASSAN CEESAY IS OFFICIAL]. www.uslecce.it (in Italian). 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Assan Ceesay: Lecce sign The Gambia striker on free transfer". BBC Sport. 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Matchday one of the 2022/23 Serie A season: the Nerazzurri in action at the Stadio Via del Mare". inter.it. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "أنهت إدارة نادي #ضمك برئاسة المهندس خالد بن مشعط ، إجراءات التعاقد مع المحترف القامبي " آسان سيساي " لاعب خط الهجوم ، ليمثل صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
- ^ https://www.cafonline.com/total-africa -cup-of-nations/matches/2021/2243295/lineups
- ^ "The Gambia name squad for first Nations Cup finals". BBC Sport.
- ^ Assan Ceesay at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ "Ceesay, Assan". National Football Teams. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ a b c Assan Ceesay profile at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
edit- Assan Ceesay at Soccerway.com
- Assan Ceesay at WorldFootball.net
- Assan Ceesay at Soccerbase.com
- Assan Ceesay at National-Football-Teams.com
- Assan Ceesay at FBref.com
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