| Yusupha Njie | |
| Birth Date: | 1 March 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Banjul, The Gambia |
| Height: | 1.88 m |
| Position: | Forward |
| Currentclub: | Santos (on loan from Al-Markhiya) |
| Clubnumber: | 17 |
| Youthyears1: | 2002–2004 |
| Youthclubs1: | Wealers FC |
| Youthyears2: | 2004–2011 |
| Youthclubs2: | Cherno Samba Academy |
| Years1: | 2011–2013 |
| Clubs1: | Real de Banjul |
| Years2: | 2013–2018 |
| Clubs2: | FUS Rabat |
| Caps2: | 62 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Years3: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs3: | → Boavista (loan) |
| Caps3: | 17 |
| Goals3: | 4 |
| Years4: | 2018–2023 |
| Clubs4: | Boavista |
| Caps4: | 109 |
| Goals4: | 28 |
| Years5: | 2023– |
| Clubs5: | Al-Markhiya |
| Caps5: | 21 |
| Goals5: | 6 |
| Years6: | 2024– |
| Clubs6: | → Santos (loan) |
| Caps6: | 0 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2007 |
| Nationalteam1: | Gambia U15 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2011 |
| Nationalteam2: | Gambia U17 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2017– |
| Nationalteam3: | Gambia |
| Nationalcaps3: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 5 May 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 7 May 2023 |
Yusupha Njie (born 1 March 1994) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Brazilian club Santos, on loan from Qatari club Al-Markhiya, and Gambia national team. He is the son of Biri Biri, who was widely regarded as the greatest Gambian footballer of all time.[1]
Born in Banjul, Njie began his youth career at local club Wealers FC before switching to Cherno Samba's academy in 2004.[1] In 2007, he was scouted for the national under-15 team; he traveled with them to compete in a cup competition in Norway. Two years later, he underwent a two-week trial with Norwegian club SK Brann, where his half-brother Tijan Jaiteh was playing at the time.[1] Although he impressed team officials, he was not able to return at their request because of obligations with the national under-17 team, including the 2011 African U-17 Championship qualification tournament.[1] He also traveled to Spain for two weeks in 2010 for a trial at his father's former club, Sevilla.[2]
Njie joined first division Gambian side Real de Banjul in 2011 and spent the following two seasons with them, leading them to a league title in 2012. Their win earned them a spot in the 2013 CAF Champions League, where he was instrumental in their 2–1 second-leg victory over Moroccan club FUS Rabat in the preliminary round.
Although Real de Banjul were eliminated on aggregate goals, Njie's play attracted the attention of FUS Rabat manager Jamal Sellami, who signed Njie to a four-year contract after a successful trial with the club in June 2013.[3]
After winning the Moroccan Cup with Rabat in 2014, Njie led them to their first-ever league title in 2015–16. That year, he was voted as Rabat's best player and drew further attention from European clubs.[4] He also scored his second and third career CAF Confederation Cup goals that year,[5] but Rabat eventually lost to Algerian club MO Béjaïa in the semi-finals.
Njie scored the game-winning goal in the second leg of a play-off round match-up against Moroccan rivals MAS Fez during 2017 CAF Confederation Cup qualification. After a 2–1 victory in the first match, Njie scored the second goal in a 1–1 draw to ensure a 3–2 aggregate win, sending them to the group stage.[6] [7] In the first group stage match, Rabat defeated the Ugandan domestic champions, KCCA, by a score of 3–0. Njie contributed with a goal and an assist.[8]
In July 2017, Njie joined Portuguese club Boavista FC on a one-year loan, with a buying option in January.[9] He made his debut for the club on 7 August, in a 2–1 away loss to Portimonense SC, and scored his first goal the following 31 January in a 2–1 home win over CS Marítimo.
Boavista activated Njie's buyout clause in June 2018.[10] In July, however, he agreed to move to French club Stade de Reims,[11] but the deal was cancelled due to failed medical tests.[12]
On 22 June 2021, Njie renewed his link with Boavista for two more years.[13]
On 9 June 2023, Qatari side Al-Markhiya announced the signing of Njie on a two-year deal, after his contract with Boavista had expired.[14] He was the club's top scorer with six goals during the season, as they suffered relegation.
On 2 September 2024, Njie joined Santos on loan until June 2025.[15]
Njie made his senior national debut with Gambia on 11 June 2017 in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, coming on for Hamza Barry during a 1–0 defeat to Benin.[16] He played in the 2021 Africa cup of Nations, his national team's first continental tournament, where they made a sensational quarter-final.[17] [18]
In addition to being Biri Biri's son, he is the half-brother of Gambian international footballer Tijan Jaiteh.[19]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| FUS Rabat | 2013–14 | Botola | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||||
| 2014–15 | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||||||
| 2015–16 | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | |||||||
| 2016–17 | 15 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 | — | 24 | 1 | ||||||
| 2017–18 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 62 | 5 | — | — | 14 | 2 | — | 76 | 7 | ||||||
| Boavista | 2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 4 | |||
| 2018–19 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 4 | |||||
| 2019–20 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||||
| 2020–21 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 6 | |||||
| 2021–22 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 31 | 7 | |||||
| 2022–23 | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 32 | 14 | |||||
| Total | 128 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 141 | 36 | |||||
| Al-Markhiya | 2023–24 | Qatar Stars League | 21 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | — | 1 | 0 | 28 | 10 | ||
| Santos (loan) | 2024 | Série B | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Career total | 201 | 43 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 235 | 53 | |||
| Gambia | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 0 | |
Real de Banjul
FUS Rabat
Santos