Biography
Who is Naby Keïta?
Early life and career beginnings
Naby Laye Keïta was born on February 10, 1995, in Conakry, Guinea. He began his path in football at his hometown club, Horoya AC, where he played from the age of nine. Seeking professional opportunities in Europe, he traveled to France in 2012. After participating in trials at FC Lorient and Le Mans FC, he joined the youth system of FC Istres.
By 2013, he was promoted to the first team at FC Istres. He made his Ligue 2 debut on November 22, 2013, in a match against Nîmes Olympique. During his inaugural professional season, he scored 11 goals across 23 appearances before the team was relegated to the Championnat National.
European club career
In July 2014, he moved to the Austrian top division to sign with Red Bull Salzburg. He debuted on July 26, 2014, against Wiener Neustadt. He finished that season with five goals and two assists, helping the team secure both the league title and the cup. The following season, he earned the distinction of Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year. He moved to the German club RB Leipzig in 2016, where he scored the winning goal during his Bundesliga debut against Borussia Dortmund.
In 2018, he completed a high-profile transfer to the English Premier League club Liverpool. He made his debut against West Ham United on August 12, 2018. During his tenure at Liverpool, he was part of the squad that won the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Premier League. He departed Liverpool in 2023 after five seasons. Following a brief period with Werder Bremen, he joined the Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC on loan in early 2025, with the transfer becoming permanent in January 2026. He celebrated a domestic cup victory with Ferencváros in May 2026.
International play for Guinea
Naby Keïta made his senior international debut for the Guinea national football team on December 14, 2012, during a qualification match for the African Nations Championship against Sierra Leone. He scored the opening goal in a 1-1 draw. He has since earned more than 50 caps for his home country.
He has represented Guinea in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including the 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023 editions. In 2022, he helped his team reach the round of 16 in Cameroon and was selected for the tournament's best eleven of the group stage. Also, he represented Guinea at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he also served as the nation's flag bearer.
Playing style and personal details
Analysts such as Nick Ames and Nick Miller have described him as a lively, box-to-box central midfielder. His ability to distribute the ball with accuracy and score goals has led to comparisons with the former playmaker Deco. ESPN analyst David Usher has noted his energetic approach and defensive qualities, which allow him to function in a holding role if required. He is also recognized for his dribbling and shooting skills.
Regarding his personal life, he has a younger brother named Petit Keïta who spent time with the German club Inter Leipzig. In 2017, Naby faced legal issues in Germany, where he was charged with presenting false documents. Reports indicated that he had provided two fake Guinean driving licences to authorities.
Birthday and age
Naby Keïta was born on February 10, 1995, which makes Naby 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Naby shares the date with 53 other famous people.
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