| Bassala Sambou | |
| Fullname: | Bassala Sambou[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1997 10, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Hannover, Germany |
| Height: | 1.84m |
| Position: | Striker |
| Currentclub: | Enosis Neon Paralimni |
| Clubnumber: | 9 |
| Youthyears1: | 2011–2015 |
| Youthclubs1: | Coventry City |
| Years1: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs1: | Coventry City |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2016–2019 |
| Clubs2: | Everton |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs3: | Fortuna Sittard |
| Caps3: | 33 |
| Goals3: | 2 |
| Years4: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs4: | → Randers (loan) |
| Caps4: | 23 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs5: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Caps5: | 43 |
| Goals5: | 2 |
| Years6: | 2023 |
| Clubs6: | → Oldham Athletic (loan) |
| Caps6: | 9 |
| Goals6: | 2 |
| Years7: | 2023– |
| Clubs7: | Enosis Neon Paralimni |
| Caps7: | 28 |
| Goals7: | 2 |
| Club-Update: | 20 June 2024 |
Bassala Sambou (born 15 October 1997) is a German footballer who plays as a striker for Enosis Neon Paralimni.
Sambou was born in Hannover, to Senegalese parents but moved to London aged seven with his family.[2]
Sambou played Sunday League football before joining Coventry City as a 15-year-old.[2] He progressed through the youth team and was among six players to be signed for the club from the academy as part of an apprenticeship.[3]
Sambou made his professional debut as a substitute for Coventry City on 7 November 2015 in a 2–1 FA Cup first round loss to Northampton Town at the Ricoh Arena, coming on to replace Conor Thomas after 58 minutes.[4] During his final season with Coventry, he scored 25 goals across the under-18s and under-21s teams.[5]
On 3 June 2016 Sambou signed for side Everton on a three-year deal, being assigned to the under-23 team managed by David Unsworth. Sambou was previously offered a professional contract with Coventry City in February.[6]
On 23 July 2019, after turning down a new deal with Everton, Sambou joined Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard on a three-year deal.[7]
On 5 October 2020, Sambou was loaned out to Danish Superliga club Randers FC for the 2020–21 season with an option to buy.[8]
On 27 January 2022, Sambou signed an 18-month deal to join EFL League One side Crewe Alexandra,[9] making his debut two days later, coming on as a 75th minute substitute for Oliver Finney in a home defeat by Rotherham United.[10] He scored his first Crewe goal in a 2–1 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons on 5 April 2022.[11]
Early the following season, Sambou was sent off after grabbing Theo Vassell by the throat during an off-the-ball incident in the 31st minute of Crewe's 3–0 League Two defeat at Salford City on 13 August 2022.[12] He apologised for his actions after the game, but faced an automatic three-match suspension plus further disciplinary action by Crewe manager Alex Morris.[13]
On 17 March 2023, Sambou signed for National League club Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the season (Sambou had played for Oldham manager David Unsworth at the Everton academy).[14] Sambou scored his first goal for Oldham in a 2–2 draw against Altrincham on 7 April 2023.[15]
Following his return to Crewe, discussions about his future with the club were said to be "ongoing" on 15 May 2023.[16] He left Crewe by mutual consent in June 2023.[17]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Coventry City | 2015–16 | League One | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Coventry City total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Everton U-23s | 2016–17[18] | Premier League 2, Div 1 | 10 | 5 | — | — | 6 | 1 | 16 | 6 | |||
| 2017–18 | 20 | 3 | — | — | 11 | 3 | 31 | 6 | |||||
| 2018–19 | 21 | 9 | — | — | 15 | 7 | 36 | 16 | |||||
| Fortuna Sittard | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 22 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2020–21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22[19] | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |||
| Fortuna Sittard total | 33 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 3 | |||
| Randers FC (loan) | 2020–21 | Danish Superliga | 23 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2021–22 | League One | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | |
| 2022–23[20] | League Two | 27 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| Crewe total | 43 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 3 | |||
| Oldham Athletic (loan) | 2022–23 | National League | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| Senior career total | 108 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 125 | 12 | |||
Everton U23[5]
Randers