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Neal Maupay

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Neal Maupay
Maupay with France U19 in 2015
Personal information
Full name Neal Maupay[1]
Date of birth (1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth Versailles, France
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[3]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Marseille (on loan from Everton)
Number 8
Youth career
2002–2007 US Valbonne
2007–2012 Nice
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Nice II 13 (9)
2012–2015 Nice 44 (6)
2015–2017 Saint-Étienne 15 (1)
2015–2017 Saint-Étienne II 6 (2)
2016–2017 → Brest (loan) 28 (11)
2017–2019 Brentford 85 (37)
2019–2022 Brighton & Hove Albion 102 (26)
2022– Everton 29 (1)
2023–2024 → Brentford (loan) 29 (6)
2024– → Marseille (loan) 11 (2)
International career
2011–2012 France U16 13 (6)
2012–2013 France U17 8 (4)
2014–2015 France U19 12 (5)
2014 France U21 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:12, 14 December 2024 (UTC)

Neal Maupay (born 14 August 1996) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Marseille, on loan from Premier League club Everton.

Maupay started his career with Nice and was a France youth international.

Club career

[edit]

Nice

[edit]

Maupay began his youth career at US Valbonne at age six in 2002,[4] before moving into the Nice academy in 2007.[5] He progressed through the ranks into the reserve team at the beginning of the 2012–13 season, scoring four goals in three early-season matches before receiving his maiden call into the first team squad on 15 September 2012,[6] for a Ligue 1 match versus Brest.[7] At age 16 years and 32 days,[8] Maupay made his professional debut as an injury-time substitute for Éric Bauthéac during the 3–2 win.[9] He was a regular inclusion in the first team squad from October 2012 through to March 2013 and signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract in January 2013.[4][7] Maupay's season was ended by a torn cruciate ligament suffered during a reserve match on 14 April 2013.[6][10] Maupay made 19 appearances and scored four goals during the 2012–13 season and when making his Ligue 1 debut and scoring his first Ligue 1 goal,[7] he became the second-youngest player to achieve both feats.[11] His first Ligue 1 goal came in the stoppage time of a 3–2 win over Evian, aged 16 years and 123 days, to be the youngest scorer in the 21st century.[12]

Despite his breakthrough into the first team squad during the 2012–13 season and after recovering from injury, Maupay was out of favour with manager Claude Puel during 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons,[13] which ultimately caused his departure in August 2015.[14] He made 53 appearances and scored nine goals during three seasons as a first team player at the Allianz Riviera.[6]

Saint-Étienne

[edit]

On 10 August 2015, Maupay transferred to Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne on a four-year contract for a €500,000 fee.[14] Despite making 23 appearances and scoring three goals during the 2015–16 season, he departed on loan for the duration of 2016–17 and left the club in July 2017.[15][16]

Loan to Brest

[edit]

On 20 July 2016, Maupay joined Ligue 2 club Brest on a season-long loan.[15] He had a good start to the 2016–17 season, scoring 10 goals in his opening 21 matches,[17] winning the August 2016 UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Month award and receiving nominations in September,[18] October and December.[19][20][21] Injuries in December 2016 and February 2017 disrupted Maupay's good form and he finished the season with 12 goals in 31 appearances.[6][17][22]

Brentford

[edit]

On 14 July 2017, Maupay moved to England to join Championship club Brentford on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee,[16] reported to be £1.6 million.[23] The club's France scout Brendan MacFarlane, who would also go on to identify Saïd Benrahma, Julian Jeanvier and Bryan Mbeumo, played a key role in the identification of the player as a target.[24] He was deployed as a forward and scored three goals in his opening six appearances for the club,[25] with his first goal coming in a 4–3 defeat to Nottingham Forest on 12 August 2017.[26] By mid-December, Maupay was considered the best "super-sub" of 2017–18 Championship season so far, with four of his five league goals having been scored during substitute appearances.[27] He broke into the starting lineup during the protracted transfer of first choice forward Lasse Vibe away from Griffin Park in January 2018 and he assumed the role full time after Vibe's departure early the following month.[28][29] Maupay showed improved goalscoring form between mid-January and mid-April, with a run of seven goals in 15 matches.[26] He finished the 2017–18 season with 46 appearances and as the club's top-scorer, with 13 goals.[26][30]

Maupay had an excellent start to the 2018–19 season and scored 13 goals in his first 17 league appearances.[31] Five goals in August 2018 and four in September led to nominations for the August PFA Fans' Championship Player of the Month and the September EFL Championship Player of the Month awards respectively.[32][33] Maupay won the EFL Player of the Year award at the 2019 London Football Awards, after he scored 18 goals in 30 appearances by the end of January 2019.[31][34] He finished a mid-table season with 28 goals in 49 appearances and was voted the Brentford's Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year.[31][35][36]

Brighton & Hove Albion

[edit]

2019–20 season: Debut season

[edit]

On 5 August 2019, Maupay moved to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion on undisclosed terms,[37] for a fee reported to be in the region of £20 million on a four-year deal.[38] Maupay scored on his debut in the opening match of the 2019–20 season, Brighton's third in a 3–0 away win over Watford.[39] On 14 September, Maupay opened the scoreline in a 1–1 draw against Burnley, claiming his first home goal for the Sussex club.[40] Maupay scored his 10th goal of the season in a 1–1 away draw against Southampton on 16 July 2020, helping Brighton earn an important point towards safety.[41]

2020–21 season

[edit]

Maupay opened his scoring tally on the second game of the season scoring two inside the first seven minutes in an eventual 3–0 away win over Newcastle United.[42] On 26 September, Manchester United were given a penalty after the final whistle due to VAR deeming Maupay to have committed handball right at the end. Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty with United winning the match 3–2; Maupay also scored a penalty himself earlier on in the game in Panenka style.[43] Maupay was sent off after the full time whistle on 9 May in a 2–1 away loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers for confronting the referee, Jonathan Moss. As a result, Maupay missed the last three games of the season.[44]

2021–22 season

[edit]

Maupay equalised against Burnley on 14 August in the opening game of the 2021–22 season, a 2–1 away win on Maupay's 25th birthday.[45] On 27 September, away at rivals Crystal Palace, Maupay scored an added-time equaliser in a 1–1 draw.[46] After seven games without scoring, Maupay scored his fifth goal of the season on 1 December away at West Ham United, an acrobatic overhead kick in the 89th minute to earn a 1–1 draw.[47] Maupay's opener in the 2–0 away victory over Watford on 12 February 2022 was his 26th Premier League goal for the Albion, equalling Glenn Murray's club record.[48][49] Maupay's form was under question during the second half of the season with inconsistency and a lengthy goal drought. He was dropped for fixtures against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur after missing a penalty in the 0–0 home draw against Norwich City on 2 April. Graham Potter defended the Frenchman saying "he's been fantastic", calling Maupay "a fantastic team player" who's been "really professional in training."[50][51][52] After being left on the bench for both North London fixtures he returned to the starting line-up on 24 April, playing 85 minutes of the 2–2 home draw against Southampton.[53]

Everton

[edit]

Maupay signed for Premier League club Everton on 26 August 2022 on a three-year contract with an option of a further year for an undisclosed fee.[54] He made his debut on 3 September, playing the whole match of the goalless Merseyside derby draw with Liverpool at Goodison Park.[55] His only goal for Everton came in a 1–0 win against West Ham United.

Loan return to Brentford

[edit]

On 1 September 2023, Brentford announced that they had re-signed Maupay on a season-long loan deal.[56]

He netted his first goal in 14 months on 4 November 2023, as he opened the scoring in a 3–2 home win against West Ham United.[57]

Loan to Marseille

[edit]

On 30 August 2024, Olympique de Marseille confirmed Maupay had signed on a loan deal lasting until the end of the season with an obligation to buy for £6 million, rising to £10 million if certain obligations are met.[58][59]

International career

[edit]
Maupay playing for France U19 in 2015

Maupay won 35 caps and scored 16 goals for France at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level.[60] He was a member of France's 2015 UEFA European U19 Championship squad and made two appearances in the tournament.[60] He has yet to be called up to the France men's team.

He is also eligible to play for the Argentina national team through his mother.[61] In February 2022, Maupay reportedly put in a personal request to Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni to consider selecting him for the national team.[61] However, despite making a personal request, Maupay is yet to have received a call up or make an appearance for the Argentina team.

Style of play

[edit]

Maupay's footballing idol is Zinedine Zidane.[62] He stated that he "can play out wide or as a number 10, but my favoured position is striker. I like to play down the middle and use my pace to get in behind defences" and "I'm used to looking after the ball and holding off defenders".[63]

Personal life

[edit]

Maupay was born in Versailles and moved to the Côte d'Azur with his family at age five.[4] He is of Argentinian descent on his mother's side and holds both French and Argentinian nationalities since 2013.[62] He has the habit of reading in the locker room before matches.[64]

In June 2020, Maupay was targeted with death threats after scoring a last-minute winning goal against Arsenal. A joint investigation by the Premier League and authorities in Singapore identified the culprit as 19-year-old Derek Ng, who was given a nine-month probation order. This was the first prosecution outside the UK for abusing a Premier League player.[65]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 14 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nice II 2012–13[6] CFA 2 8 7 — — — 8 7
2013–14[6] CFA 4 2 — — — 4 2
2014–15[6] CFA 1 0 — — — 1 0
Total 13 9 — — — 13 9
Nice 2012–13[6] Ligue 1 15 3 2 1 2 0 — 19 4
2013–14[6] Ligue 1 16 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 19 3
2014–15[6] Ligue 1 13 1 1 0 1 1 — 15 2
Total 44 6 5 2 4 1 0 0 53 9
Saint-Étienne 2015–16[6] Ligue 1 15 1 4 2 1 0 3[c] 0 23 3
Saint-Étienne II 2015–16[6] CFA 6 2 — — — 6 2
Brest (loan) 2016–17[6] Ligue 2 28 11 1 1 2 0 — 31 12
Brentford 2017–18[26] Championship 42 12 1 0 3 1 — 46 13
2018–19[31] Championship 43 25 4 3 2 0 — 49 28
Total 85 37 5 3 5 1 — 95 41
Brighton & Hove Albion 2019–20[66] Premier League 37 10 1 0 0 0 — 38 10
2020–21[67] Premier League 33 8 2 0 1 0 — 36 8
2021–22[68] Premier League 32 8 2 1 1 0 — 35 9
Total 102 26 5 1 2 0 — 109 27
Everton 2022–23[69] Premier League 27 1 1 0 1 0 — 29 1
2023–24[70] Premier League 2 0 0 0 1 0 — 3 0
Total 29 1 1 0 2 0 — 32 1
Brentford (loan) 2023–24[70] Premier League 29 6 2 2 — — 31 8
Marseille (loan) 2024–25[71] Ligue 1 11 2 0 0 — — 11 2
Career total 362 101 23 11 16 2 3 0 404 114
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

[edit]

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Neal Maupay: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Neal Maupay: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Prospect: Neal Maupay | Get French Football News". www.getfootballnewsfrance.com. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Sky Sports Scout – Neal Maupay". Sky Sports. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Neal Maupay at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Neal Maupay Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Maupay dans le groupe face à Brest". Ouest-France (in French). 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Nice v. Brest Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 15 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Soccer-Nice striker Maupay out for rest of the season". Reuters. 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  11. ^ FIFA.com (19 December 2012). "Predators, a prodigy and global glory". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  12. ^ ""I'm a kid from the club."". OGC Nice. 21 April 2020.
  13. ^ Le Lay, Maxime (7 October 2018). "Football. Neal Maupay : " J'ai vraiment adoré mon passage à Brest "". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Ligue1.com – Bahebeck, Maupay bolster Sainté attack". www.ligue1.com. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Saint-Etienne prête Neal Maupay à Brest". L'Equipe (in French). 20 July 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Neal Maupay joins from Saint-Etienne". Brentford FC. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Neal Maupay Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  18. ^ a b "nomine-trophee 1222 – Trophées UNFP". Trophées UNFP (in French). Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  19. ^ "nomine-trophee 1677 – Trophées UNFP". Trophées UNFP (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  20. ^ "nomine-trophee 4818 – Trophées UNFP". Trophées UNFP (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  21. ^ "nomine-trophee 9631 – Trophées UNFP". Trophées UNFP (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Expert Column – Preview – Football – The Hong Kong Jockey Club". football.hkjc.com. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  23. ^ Thomas, Lyall (14 July 2017). "Brentford sign striker Neal Maupay from Saint-Etienne". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Interview de Brendan MacFarlane, Responsable Recrutement France de Brentford FC". 17 December 2018.
  25. ^ "Brentford FC Middlesbrough 2 Brentford 2". Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  26. ^ a b c d "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  27. ^ Dubas-Fisher, David (11 December 2017). "Neal Maupay is the Championship's top super-sub so far". getwestlondon. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Neal Maupay Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  29. ^ "Brentford FC "It's been a good day"". Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  30. ^ "Brentford FC Player Appearances | Past & Present | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  31. ^ a b c d "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Hernandez wins August's PFA Bristol Street Motors Championship Fans' Player of the Month". www.thepfa.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  33. ^ "Neal Maupay beaten to Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month prize". Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Neal Maupay named EFL Player of the Year at London Football Awards". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  35. ^ "Football Club History Database – Brentford". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  36. ^ a b c "Maupay takes the honours at Player of the Year Dinner". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  37. ^ "ALBION SIGN FRENCH STRIKER". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  38. ^ "Neal Maupay: Brighton sign Brentford forward for reported £20m". BBC Sport. 5 August 2019.
  39. ^ "Watford 0–3 Brighton: Neal Maupay scores on Seagulls debut - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  40. ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Burnley: Jeff Hendrick scores in stoppage time to earn visitors a point - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  41. ^ "Ings goal keeps Brighton waiting - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Newcastle United 0–3 Brighton & Hove Albion: Neal Maupay scores two in superb Seagulls win - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  43. ^ "Brighton 2–3 Man Utd: Dramatic injury-time penalty gives Manchester United victory – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  44. ^ "Wolves 2-1 Brighton: Nuno eagar to 'build and improve' players - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  45. ^ "Burnley 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Substitute Alexis Mac Allister seals comeback win - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  46. ^ "Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Neal Maupay scores dramatic equaliser - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  47. ^ "West Ham 1-1 Brighton: Neal Maupay scores late equaliser after early Tomas Soucek goal for the Hammers - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  48. ^ "'I will beat Glenn Murray' - Neal Maupay wants to surpass Premier League record at Manchester United after sublime Watford strike - SussexWorld". Sussex Express. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  49. ^ "Watford 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Seagulls inflict more misery on Hornets - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  50. ^ "Graham Potter makes Neal Maupay admission after Brighton star's Arsenal and Tottenham omissions". SussexLive. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  51. ^ "Brighton boss Graham Potter recognises growing maturity in striker Neal Maupay - BT Sport". BT Sport. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  52. ^ "Brighton 0-0 Norwich: Neal Maupay penalty miss costs hosts". BBC Sport. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  53. ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Southampton: Ward-Prowse hits two in entertaining draw - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  54. ^ "Maupay signs for Everton". Everton F.C. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  55. ^ "Everton 0-0 Liverpool: Both sides hit woodwork in goalless draw". BBC Sport. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  56. ^ "Maupay returns to Brentford". Brentford F.C. 1 September 2023.
  57. ^ "Brentford 3–2 West Ham". BBC Sport. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  58. ^ "Neal Maupay is an Olympien". Olympique de Marseille. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  59. ^ "Marseille sign Everton striker Maupay". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  60. ^ a b "Joueur – Neal MAUPAY – FFF". Fédération Française de Football (in French). Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  61. ^ a b "Albion's French star Neal Maupay eyes Argentina call-up". theargus.co.uk. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  62. ^ a b "ASSE – EXCLU Zidane, Manchester United, Eysseric… Les confessions de Maupay". But! Football Club (in French). Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  63. ^ "Brentford FC Neal Maupay ready for Griffin Park return". Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  64. ^ Maupay: I read before kick-off to relax brightonandhovealbion.com
  65. ^ "Neal Maupay: Teenager in Singapore handed nine-month probation order for online abuse of Brighton striker". Sky Sports. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  66. ^ "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  67. ^ "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  68. ^ "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  69. ^ "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  70. ^ a b "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  71. ^ "Games played by Neal Maupay in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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