Nathan Zézé

Nathan Zézé
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-06-18) 18 June 2005
Place of birth Nantes, France
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Neom
Number 44
Youth career
2011–2013 US Loire-et-Divatte
2013–2023 Nantes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2025 Nantes B 28 (1)
2023–2025 Nantes 32 (0)
2025– Neom 31 (2)
International career‡
2021 France U17 6 (0)
2022–2023 France U18 2 (0)
2024– France U21 8 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:37, 28 July 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:37, 28 July 2026 (UTC)

Nathan Zézé (born 18 June 2005) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Neom.[1]

Early life

Having grown up in La Varenne, just North-East of the Nantes Metropolis, Nathan Zézé joined the Nantes Academy as an under-9.[2]

Club career

Growing through the youth ranks of the team from Brittany, Zézé came to captain its under-17 and under-19 sides,[2] despite being the youngest on the pitch when he first captained the latter in 2021.[3] During the 2021–22 season he helped the under-19s to a national title, qualifying them for the European Youth League.[3]

At the start of the 2022–23 season, Zézé moved to the reserve National 2 team, whilst also playing the UEFA Youth League.[2][4]

Having already appeared on the team sheet in Ligue 1 against Auxerre during the previous encounter,[5][6] Zézé made his professional debut for Nantes on the 7 January 2023, during the 2–0 away Coupe de France win to AF Virois. He replaced an injured Nicolas Pallois before half-time, as his team had just scored its first goal, Zézé helping them to keep a clean-sheet for the rest of the game.[5][7][8]

On 28 July 2025, Zézé joined Saudi Pro League club Neom.[9]

International career

Born in France, Zézé is of Ivorian descent through his father.[10] He is a youth international for France, having played with France under-17s until 2021,[3][11] before being selected with the under-18 for the Tournoi de Limoges the following year.[12]

Style of play

A left-footed centre-back, Zézé has been described as a tall defender with good positioning and anticipation, capable in aerial duels and comfortable in possession, including with both short and long passes.[2][3]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 May 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nantes B 2022–23 CFA 2 221——221
2023–24 National 3 40——40
2024–25 National 3 20——20
Total 281——281
Nantes 2022–23 Ligue 1 1010—20
2023–24 Ligue 1 13010—140
2024–25 Ligue 1 18010—190
Total 32030—350
Career total 7013000731

References

  1. ↑ Nathan Zézé at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Soyer, Julien (12 July 2022). "FC Nantes. N2 : zoom sur quatre Jaunes plein d'avenir". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Le Guirinec, Louis (18 August 2022). "Un jour, un jeune. Episode 5 : Nathan Zézé, la promesse". La Maison Jaune (in French). Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "FC Nantes. Quatre jeunes en passe de signer leur premier contrat professionnel". Ouest-France. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. 1 2 Cazzola, Florian (7 January 2023). "Coupe de France : qualification tranquille du FC Nantes face aux amateurs de Vire". France Bleu (in French). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Ripoche, Antoine (31 December 2022). "FC Nantes. Pedro Chirivella absent du groupe pour la réception d'Auxerre". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Soyer, Julien (8 January 2023). "Coupe de France. FC Nantes : Doucet, Diaz, Zézé… Face à Vire, une jeunesse au niveau". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Y.F. (7 January 2023). "Coupe de France : première apparition en pro pour Nathan Zeze". Tribune Nantaise (in French). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Mercato : Nathan Zézé officiellement cédé à Neom, plus grosse vente de l'histoire de Nantes" [Transfer Market: Nathan Zézé officially sold to Neom, biggest sale in Nantes' history]. L'Équipe (in French). 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  10. ↑ Agada, Salomon (8 October 2024). "Nathan Zézé reste évasif sur son avenir".
  11. ↑ "Nathan Zézé appelé en Equipe de France U17". Actufoot. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Canivenc, Clovis (16 September 2022). "Equipe de France U18Ilyes Housni convoqué avec la France U18". MadeinParisiens. Ouest-France. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
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