Wilfrid Kaptoum Explained

Wilfrid Kaptoum
Full Name:Wilfrid Jaures Kaptoum
Birth Date:7 July 1996
Birth Place:Douala, Cameroon
Height:1.74 m[1]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Panserraikos
Clubnumber:6
Youthclubs1:Samuel Eto'o Academy
Youthyears2:2008–2015
Youthclubs2:Barcelona
Youthyears3:2009–2010
Youthclubs3:Sant Andreu (loan)
Years1:2014–2018
Clubs1:Barcelona B
Caps1:42
Goals1:6
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Barcelona
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Betis B
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2020
Clubs4:Betis
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Years5:2020
Clubs5:Almería (loan)
Caps5:8
Goals5:0
Years6:2021–2022
Clubs6:New England Revolution
Caps6:42
Goals6:2
Years7:2023
Clubs7:Las Palmas
Caps7:11
Goals7:0
Years8:2023–2024
Clubs8:AEK Larnaca
Caps8:14
Goals8:0
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Panserraikos
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2014–2015
Nationalteam1:Cameroon U20
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:2
Club-Update:17 August 2024

Wilfrid Jaures Kaptoum (born 7 July 1996) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Greek Super League club Panserraikos.[2]

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Douala, Kaptoum joined FC Barcelona's youth ranks in 2008, aged 12, after a stint in Samuel Eto'o's foundation.[3] He was subsequently loaned to neighbouring UE Sant Andreu,[4] and in June 2014 was promoted to the reserves in Segunda División.[5]

Kaptoum played his first match as a professional on 23 August 2014, starting in a 0–2 away loss against CA Osasuna.[6] He scored his first goal on 19 October, netting the second in a 4–1 home win against AD Alcorcón.[7] On 28 October 2015, Kaptoum made his debut for Barcelona's first team, starting in a goalless draw away to CF Villanovense in the season's Copa del Rey.[8]

Kaptoum's first appearance in the UEFA Champions League came on 9 December 2015, in a 1–1 draw away to Leverkusen.[9] [10] In another 1–1 draw game against Valencia CF on 10 February 2016, he scored his debut goal for the first team 2 minutes after coming in as a substitute in the second leg of Copa del Rey semifinals.[11] [12] His goal also served to extend FC Barcelona's unbeaten run to 29 games, breaking the previous record of 28 games set under Pep Guardiola in the 2010–11 season.[13]

Kaptoum sustained a knee injury which kept him out of action for five months. He returned to fitness in December 2017.[14] On 29 January 2018, he agreed to terminate his contract with Barcelona.[14]

Betis

On 31 January 2018, two days after leaving Barcelona, Kaptoum signed with Real Betis and was initially assigned to the B-team.[15] He made his first team debut on 4 October, replacing Sergio León in a 3–0 home defeat of F91 Dudelange, for the season's UEFA Europa League.[16]

Kaptoum made his La Liga debut on 3 February 2019, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Atlético Madrid.[17] On 10 January 2020, Kaptoum joined UD Almería on loan for the remainder of the season.[18]

On 5 October 2020, Kaptoum terminated his contract with the Verdiblancos.[19]

New England Revolution

On 23 December 2020, the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer announced the signing of Kaptoum on a free transfer.[20] [21] He scored his first goal for the club against Chicago Fire on 16 October 2021. Following the 2022 season, New England opted to decline his contract option.[22]

Las Palmas

On 13 January 2023, Kaptoum returned to Spain and its second division, after signing a short-term deal with UD Las Palmas.[23]

AEK Larnaca

On 13 July 2023, Kaptoum joined Cypriot First Division club AEK Larnaca.[24]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B2013–14Segunda División0000
2014–153131
2015–16Segunda División B253253
2016–1714220162
Total426000020446
Barcelona2015–16La Liga00211031
2016–1700000000
Total0021100031
Betis B2017–18Segunda División B120120
2018–19Tercera División5050
Total170000000170
Betis2018–19La Liga10030130
2019–2050112081
Total150412000211
Almería (loan)2019–20Segunda División800080
New England Revolution2021MLS21100211
202221110221
Total422100000432
Las Palmas2022–23La Liga11000110
Larnaca2023–24Cypriot First Division1100030140
Career total146872602016110

Honours

Barcelona

2015–16

2013–14[25]

New England Revolution

2021

Notes and References

  1. Web site: revolutionsoccer.net. Wilfrid Kaptoum New England Revolution. 2022-01-24. revolutionsoccer.net. en.
  2. https://www.gazzetta.gr/football/protathlima-cyta/2356439/aek-larnakas-parelthon-kai-episima-o-kaptoym
  3. http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20120509/fc-barcelona/kaptoum-mediocentro-camerunes-barca-fc-barcelona-masia_54290830780.html Kaptoum, el único mediocentro africano (Kaptoum, the only African central midfielder)
  4. http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/kaptoum-zidane-color-vestido-del-barca-3273229 Kaptoum, un Zidane de color y vestido del Barça (Kaptoum, a black Zidane and wearing Barça)
  5. http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/kaptoum-tiene-muchos-numeros-para-subir-barca-3319669 Kaptoum tiene muchos números para subir al Barça B (Kaptoum has many numbers to rise to Barça B)
  6. http://www.marca.com/2014/08/23/futbol/equipos/osasuna/1408821384.html Un doblete de Nino endulza la vuelta a Segunda tras 14 años (A Nino's double makes the return to Segunda after 14 years sweeter)
  7. http://www.marca.com/2014/10/19/futbol/2adivision/1413754139.html Adama Traoré se disfraza de gacela para devorar al Alcorcón (Adama Traoré uses a gazelle costume to devour Alcorcón)
  8. News: Kaptoum y Aitor debutan con el primer equipo del Barcelona. Kaptoum and Aitor debut with Barcelona's first team. 28 October 2015. Diario AS. 28 October 2015. es.
  9. News: Cámara y Kaptoum debutan en Champions. Cámara y Kaptoum make their debut in the Champions League. 9 December 2015. Mundo Deportivo. 9 December 2015. es.
  10. Web site: Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 1 Barcelona Player & Team ratings - 09/12/2015 UEFA Champions League. goal.com. 9 December 2015.
  11. Web site: Valencia 1-1 Barcelona (agg 1-8): Neville denied rare win as Barça break record. goal.com. 10 February 2016.
  12. Web site: Barça salvage 1-1 King's Cup draw against improved Valencia. Reuters. 10 February 2016.
  13. News: El FC Barcelona, a la final de la Copa del Rey con récord. Kaptoum extends Barça's unbeaten run as Luis Enrique's side stroll into Copa final. 10 February 2016. Sport. 10 February 2016. es.
  14. News: Rojo. Luis F.. Barcelona youngster Kaptoum to join Real Betis. 29 January 2018. Marca. 29 January 2018.
  15. News: Gillingham. Geoff. La Masia poster boys Bartra and Tello reunite at Real Betis. 3 February 2018. Marca. 31 January 2018.
  16. Web site: Betis 3–0 Dudelange. UEFA.com. 4 October 2018. 31 August 2019.
  17. Web site: Canales cierra los caminos. Canales blocks the pathways. Marca. es. 3 February 2019. 31 August 2019.
  18. Web site: The transfer of Kaptoum to Almeria is now official. Sportsfinding. 14 January 2020.
  19. Web site: Wilfrid Kaptoum deja de pertenecer a la disciplina del Real Betis. Wilfrid Kaptoum leaves Real Betis. Real Betis. es. 5 October 2020. 5 October 2020.
  20. Web site: Jonathan. Sigal. New England Revolution sign midfielder Wilfrid Kaptoum after La Liga stops. Major League Soccer . 23 December 2020 . 23 December 2020.
  21. Web site: Revolution continue to reshape roster for 2021 by signing midfielder Wilfrid Kaptoum. . 23 December 2020 . 23 December 2020.
  22. Web site: New England Revolution announce year-end roster moves | New England Revolution. revolutionsoccer.net.
  23. Web site: Wilfrid Kaptoum, nuevo jugador de la UD Las Palmas. Wilfrid Kaptoum, new player of UD Las Palmas. UD Las Palmas. es. 13 January 2023. 13 January 2023.
  24. Web site: AEK Larnaca . 2023-06-13 . Welcome to, @Kaptoum5! . 2023-12-08 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  25. Web site: First Youth League title goes Barcelona's way. UEFA.com. 14 April 2014. 2 February 2015.