Olivier Kemen

Olivier Kemen (born 20 July 1996) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir.^[2] A former youth international for France, he plays for the Cameroon national team.

Olivier Kemen

Kemen with Cameroon in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(1996-07-20) 20 July 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth	Douala, Cameroon
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	İstanbul Başakşehir
Number	8
Youth career
2005–2009	Garenne-Colombes
2009–2010	Boulogne-Billancourt
2010–2013	Metz
2013–2015	Newcastle United
2015–2016	Lyon
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2016	Lyon B	32	(6)
2016–2019	Lyon	4	(0)
2017–2018	→ Gazélec Ajaccio (loan)	42	(7)
2019–2021	Chamois Niortais	62	(6)
2021–2024	Kayserispor	62	(6)
2024–	İstanbul Başakşehir	47	(4)
International career‡
2012	France U16	6	(0)
2012	France U17	3	(0)
2013–2014	France U18	5	(0)
2014–2015	France U19	13	(1)
2015–2016	France U20	8	(0)
2023–	Cameroon	6	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:22, 18 March 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Kemen is a youth exponent from Metz. He made his Ligue 1 debut for Lyon on 28 February 2016 against Paris Saint-Germain replacing Rafael after 75 minutes in a 2–1 home win.^[3]

On 11 January 2017, Kemen joined Ligue 2 side Ajaccio on loan until the end of the season.^[4] On 12 July 2017, his loan was extended for another season.^[5]

He signed for Chamois Niortais in July 2019,^[6] and went on to make 62 appearances in Ligue 2 for the club.

On 29 August 2021, after two season with Niort, Kemen joined Süper Lig club Kayserispor for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.^[7]

International career

Born in Cameroon, Kemen moved to France at a young age. He is a youth international for France.^[8] He debuted with the senior Cameroon national team in a 1–1 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie with Namibia on 24 March 2023, scoring his side's only goal.^[9]

On December 28, 2023, he was selected from the list of 27 Cameroonian players selected by Rigobert Song to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Career statistics

Club

As of 3 October 2023^[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Europe[nb 1]		Other[nb 2]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lyon	2015–16	Ligue 1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2016–17		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Gazélec Ajaccio (loan)	2016–17	Ligue 2	16	4	0	0	0	0	—		—		16	4
	2017–18		26	3	0	0	2	0	—		—		28	3
	Total		42	7	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	44	7
Chamois Niortais	2019–20	Ligue 2	27	2	2	0	2	0	—		—		31	2
	2020–21		34	4	1	0	—		—		2	1	37	5
	2021–22		1	0	0	0	—		—		—		1	0
	Total		62	6	3	0	2	0	0	0	2	1	69	7
Kayserispor	2021–22	Süper Lig	22	1	6	0	—		—		—		28	1
	2022–23		27	3	4	0	—		—		—		31	3
	2023–24		5	0	0	0	—		—		—		5	0
	Total		54	4	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	64	4
Career total			162	17	13	0	4	0	0	0	2	1	181	18

Notes

1. Includes UEFA Europa League
2. Includes Ligue 2 relegation playoffs