Joachim Kayi Sanda

Joachim Kayi Sanda
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-11-29) 29 November 2006
Place of birth Antony, France
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Southampton
Number 39
Youth career
2012–2018 Antony Sports
2018–2020 Antony Évolution
2020–2021 A.C.B.B.
2021–2023 Valenciennes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Valenciennes II 4 (0)
2023–2025 Valenciennes 31 (0)
2025– Southampton 2 (0)
2025–2026 → Red Star (loan) 6 (0)
International career
2022 France U16 2 (1)
2022– France U17 14 (0)
2023– France U18 8 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  France
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Runner-up2023 Indonesia
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Runner-up2023 Hungary
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 06:18, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Joachim Kayi Sanda (born 29 November 2006) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Southampton.

Club career

Valenciennes

Kayi Sanda was born in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France.[1] In September 2023, he signed a three-year professional contract with Valenciennes.[2] He made his debut for the Valenciennes first team in Ligue 2 on 21 October 2023, starting against Grenoble Foot 38.[3] In doing so, aged 16 years and ten months, he became the youngest player in the club's history.[4][5]

Southampton

On 9 January 2025, Kayi Sanda joined Premier League club Southampton on a four-year contract.[6] He made his debut for the club on 18 May in a 2–0 defeat against Everton after he replaced Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the 82nd minute.[7]

On 25 August 2025, Kayi Sanda joined Ligue 2 club Red Star on a season-long loan.[8] He was recalled from loan and returned to Southampton on 1 January 2026.[9]

International career

Born in France, Kayi Sanda is of DR Congolese descent.[10] He captained France U17s to the finals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where France reached the final after making the quarter-finals without conceding a goal.[11][12][13]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 October 2025[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Valenciennes II 2022–23 Championnat National 3 10———10
2023–24 Championnat National 3 30———30
Total 40———40
Valenciennes 2023–24 Ligue 2 20050——250
2024–25 Championnat National 11010——120
Total 31060——370
Southampton 2024–25[15] Premier League 2000——20
2025–26[16] Championship 000000—00
2026–27[17] Championship 000000—00
Total 200000—20
Red Star (loan) 2025–26 Ligue 2 6000——60
Career total 4306000—490
  1. ↑ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup

Honours

U17 France

References

  1. ↑ Quarez, Benjamin (18 November 2023). "From Antony to Indonesia via Valenciennes, Joachim Kayi Sanda in the footsteps of Dayot Upamecano". Le Parisien. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Joachim Kayi Sanda (16 years old) signs pro in Valenciennes". L'Équipe. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "GRENOBLE FOOT 38 VS. VALENCIENNES 3 – 3". Soccerway. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "VALENCIENNES: JOACHIM KAYI SANDA BREAKS A PRECOCITY RECORD". Foot-National. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "VAFC: Joachim Kayi Sanda, a great first which is already a landmark". lavoixdunord.fr. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Kayi Sanda becomes a Saint". Southampton FC. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Report: Saints beaten by Everton in Goodison Park farewell". Southampton FC. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "Kayi Sanda heads out on loan". Southampton FC. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "Fin de Prêt pour Joachim Kayi Sanda". Red Star FC (in French). 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Tahiana, Jésé (27 March 2024). "Joachim Kayi Sanda pourrait rejoindre un club anglais".
  11. ↑ Karlsen, Tor-Kristian (23 November 2023). "Which players have impressed at the U-17 World Cup?". ESPN. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Kayi Sanda: 'We knew we could come back'". UEFA. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Kayi Sanda explains switching Valenciennes for Southampton". Daily Echo. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "J.Kayi Sanda". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Games played by Joachim Kayi Sanda in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Games played by Joachim Kayi Sanda in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Games played by Joachim Kayi Sanda in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Germany take title with shoot-out win over France". UEFA. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Germany win FIFA U-17 World Cup after shootout drama". FIFA. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.


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