Assan Torrez Ceesay (born 17 March 1994) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Damac and the Gambia national team.[1]

Assan Ceesay
Personal information
Full name Assan Torrez Ceesay
Date of birth (1994-03-17) 17 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Banjul, The Gambia
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1][2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Damac
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2014 Gamtel Banjul 3 (3)
2014–2015 Casa Sports
2015–2016 ASC Niarry Tally
2016 Lugano II 12 (12)
2016–2018 Lugano 17 (3)
2017–2018Chiasso (loan) 31 (8)
2018–2022 Zürich 99 (26)
2020VfL Osnabrück (loan) 11 (1)
2022–2023 Lecce 34 (6)
2023– Damac 19 (6)
International career
Gambia U17 2 (0)
Gambia U20 8 (3)
Gambia U23 5 (2)
2013– Gambia 41 (13)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:23, 16 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 January 2024

Club career

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In January 2020, Ceesay joined 2. Bundesliga side VfL Osnabrück, on loan from Swiss Super League club FC Zürich.[3]

Assan had his highlight while playing with FC Zürich in the 2021–22 Swiss Super League where he helped the team win the title by scoring 20 goals and ending the season as 2nd best top-scorer of the league that season,[4] and in third place as best assistant.[5] This made him one of best players of the Swiss League and called the attention of many clubs worldwide to sign him.

On 16 June 2022, Ceesay agreed to join newly promoted Serie A club Lecce on a two-year contract, with the option of a third, from 1 July when his contract with FC Zürich would expire.[6][7] On 14 August 2022, Ceesay scored on his league debut as Lecce was condemned to a 1-2 defeat against Inter Milan at Stadio Via del mare.[8]

On 15 August 2023, Ceesay joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal on a three-year deal.[9]

International career

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Ceesay played in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, his national team's first continental tournament, where they made it to quarter-finals.[10][11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 4 December 2023[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lugano II 2015–16 2. Liga Interregional 12 12 12 12
Lugano 2016–17 Swiss Super League 12 1 1 0 13 1
2018–19 5 2 0 0 5 2
Total 17 3 1 0 0 0 18 3
Chiasso (loan) 2017–18 Swiss Challenge League 31 8 1 0 32 8
Zürich 2018–19 Swiss Super League 22 3 3 2 5 0 30 5
2019–20 12 1 2 0 14 1
2020–21 32 2 1 2 33 3
2021–22 33 20 2 2 35 22
Total 99 26 8 6 5 0 112 31
VfL Osnabrück (loan) 2019–20 2. Bundesliga 11 1 0 0 11 1
Lecce 2022–23 Serie A 34 6 1 0 35 6
Damac 2023–24 Saudi Pro League 14 6 2 1 - 16 7
Career total 218 62 13 7 5 0 236 69

International

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Scores and results list Gambia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ceesay goal.
List of international goals scored by Assan Ceesay[13]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 23 March 2018 Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia   Central African Republic 1–0 1–1 Friendly
2 8 September 2018 Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia   Algeria 1–1 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 12 October 2018 Stade Général Eyadema, Lomé, Togo   Togo 1–0 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 10 September 2019 Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola   Angola 1–1 1–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 13 November 2019 Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola   Angola 1–1 3–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
6 2–1
7 9 October 2020 Estádio Municipal Bela Vista, Parchal, Portugal   Congo 1–0 1–0 Friendly
8 25 March 2021 Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia   Angola 1–0 1–0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9 9 October 2021 Stade El Abdi, El Jadida, Morocco   Sierra Leone 1–0 1–2 Friendly
10 12 October 2021 Stade El Abdi, El Jadida, Morocco   South Sudan 1–0 2–1 Friendly
11 2–0
12 29 March 2022 Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco   Chad 1–1 2–2 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
13 2–1

Honours

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Gamtel Banjul

ASC Niarry Tally

FC Zürich

References

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  1. ^ a b Assan Ceesay at Soccerway
  2. ^ Assan Ceesay at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ P.M. (23 January 2020). "Neuzugang aus der Schweiz: VfL Osnabrück leiht Assan Ceesay aus". Hasepost (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. ^ Torschützenliste 2021/22
  5. ^ Assistliste 2021/22
  6. ^ "UFFICIALE L'ACQUISIZIONE DI ASSAN CEESAY" [THE ACQUISITION OF ASSAN CEESAY IS OFFICIAL]. www.uslecce.it (in Italian). 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Assan Ceesay: Lecce sign The Gambia striker on free transfer". BBC Sport. 16 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Matchday one of the 2022/23 Serie A season: the Nerazzurri in action at the Stadio Via del Mare". inter.it. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  9. ^ "أنهت إدارة نادي #ضمك برئاسة المهندس خالد بن مشعط ، إجراءات التعاقد مع المحترف القامبي " آسان سيساي " لاعب خط الهجوم ، ليمثل صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
  10. ^ https://www.cafonline.com/total-africa -cup-of-nations/matches/2021/2243295/lineups
  11. ^ "The Gambia name squad for first Nations Cup finals". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ Assan Ceesay at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Ceesay, Assan". National Football Teams. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  14. ^ a b c Assan Ceesay profile at National-Football-Teams.com
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