Sékou Mara

Sékou Mara (born 30 July 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.

Sékou Mara

Mara in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth	(2002-07-30) 30 July 2002 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth	Paris, France
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Strasbourg
Number	14
Youth career
2011–2014	Paris Saint-Germain
2014–2017	Boulogne-Billancourt
2017–2021	Bordeaux
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2020	Bordeaux B	14	(5)
2020–2022	Bordeaux	34	(7)
2022–2024	Southampton	50	(4)
2024–	Strasbourg	25	(1)
International career
2017	France U16	2	(1)
2018–2019	France U17	4	(0)
2021–2022	France U20	10	(6)
2021–2023	France U21	4	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 05:21, 22 May 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Bordeaux

Mara made his professional debut for Bordeaux in a 2–0 Coupe de France loss to Toulouse on 10 February 2021.^[3] He scored his first professional goal in a 1–0 Ligue 1 win over Rennes on 2 May 2021. By scoring this goal, he became the youngest player to score a league goal for Bordeaux in almost 14 years.^[4]

Southampton

On 21 July 2022, it was confirmed by Bordeaux that they had accepted an offer from Southampton for Mara, and that the deal was subject to a medical.^[5] On 25 July 2022, Southampton confirmed that Mara had signed a four-year deal with the club.^[6] On 13 August 2022, Mara made his first Premier League appearance in Southampton’s 2–2 draw with Leeds United after he replaced Jan Bednarek.^[7] On 11 January 2023, Mara scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 quarter final EFL Cup victory against Manchester City.^[8] On 8 April 2023, Mara scored his first Premier League goal in a 1–4 defeat against Manchester City.^[9]

On 13 April 2024, he came on as a substitute for Ché Adams in the 80th minute of a 3–2 victory against Watford.^[10] Shortly afterwards, Mara struck Ryan Porteous in an unpunished off-the-ball incident.^[11] On 16 April 2024, the Football Association gave Mara a three-match suspension for violent conduct.^[12]

Strasbourg

On 21 August 2024, Mara joined Strasbourg on a five-year contract.^[13][14]

International career

Mara is a youth international for France. He has played matches at under-16, under-17, under-20, and under-21 level.^[15]

Personal life

Mara's mother, Audrey Crespo-Mara, is a French journalist and television presenter,^[16] and his father, Aliou Mara, is a Senegalese entrepreneur.^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bordeaux B	2019–20	Championnat National 3	11	5	—		—		—		11	5
	2020–21	Championnat National 3	3	0	—		—		—		3	0
	Total		14	5	—		—		—		14	5
Bordeaux	2020–21	Ligue 1	8	1	1	0	—		—		9	1
	2021–22	Ligue 1	26	6	1	0	—		—		27	6
	Total		34	7	2	0	—		—		36	7
Southampton	2022–23[18]	Premier League	22	1	3	0	5	1	—		30	2
	2023–24[19]	Championship	28	3	4	3	1	0	1[a]	0	34	6
	2024–25[20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		50	4	7	3	6	1	1	0	64	8
Strasbourg	2024–25	Ligue 1	25	1	2	2	—		—		27	3
Career total			123	17	11	5	6	1	1	0	141	23

1. Appearance in Championship play-offs

Honours

Individual

• Maurice Revello Tournament Golden Boot: 2022
• Maurice Revello Tournament Silver Ball: 2022
• Maurice Revello Tournament Best XI: 2022^[21]