Paul Arnold Garita (born 18 June 1995) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga I club FCSB, on loan from China League One club Shenzhen Juniors.

Career

Châteauroux Born in Douala, Cameroon, Garita moved to France and started playing football at 13, leading him to join CO Vincennes. When he was 15, he left CO Vincennes to join Châteauroux, where he started his youth career. He progressed through the ranks of the Châteauroux academy despite the difficulties. By 2012, he was linked with away from the club, as he was on a basic youth contract, leading interests from Arsenal, Newcastle United, RCD Espanyol and VfL Wolfsburg.

He made his professional debut for LB Châteauroux, where he came on as a late substitute for Clément Tainmont, and scored an equaliser, in a 1–1 draw against AJ Auxerre on 30 November 2012. Having appeared two more times as a substitute later in the season, Garita signed his first professional contract with the club in February 2013. At the end of the 2012–13 season, he went on to make four appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

In the 2013–14 season, Garita spent the start of the season on the sidelines and didn't make his first appearance of the season, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–2 draw against Stade Lavallois on 13 December 2013. Seven days later, on 20 December 2013, he scored twice, after coming on as a substitute in fourteen minutes from the game, in a 3–1 win over Dijon FCO. He scored against Dijon again this season on 6 May 2014, which saw Châteauroux lose 2–1. At the end of the 2013–14 season, Garita went on to make eight times and scoring three times in all competitions.

However, at the start of the 2014–15 season, he suffered an ankle injury that saw him on the sidelines. On 16 November 2014, he made his return from the sidelines against Meymac CA in the seventh round of Coupe de France and scored twice, in a 6–0 win. In a follow-up match against Auxerre five days later, he scored again, in a 3–1 loss. He later spent the rest of the 2014–15 season, appearing in a number of matches, as he went on to make fourteen appearances and scoring twice in all competitions.

In the 2015–16 season, with the club relegated to Championnat National, Garita remained in the first team despite facing limited time of football. He went on to make six appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.

Bristol City Garita joined Bristol City on 7 January 2016, from French club Châteauroux for a fee of £50,000. He went on a trial last November and lasted for two weeks, which he impressed the side.

During his time at Bristol City, Garita fight for his place in the first team, but was demoted to the club's U23 side instead. This also included injury concerns. He did appear in the first team as an unused substitute in a quarter–final of Football League Cup, in a 2–1 win over Manchester United.

He was released by Bristol City at the end of the 2017–18 season, without making a single appearance for the side.

Plymouth Argyle (loan) On 31 August 2016, the last day of the 2016 summer transfer window, Garita signed on loan for Plymouth Argyle initially for half of the 2016–17 season.

He made his Plymouth Argyle debut, where he came on as a substitute for Jake Jervis, in a 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town on 3 September 2016. Two weeks later, on 17 September 2016, he scored his first goal for the club, as well as, setting up a goal, in a 2–0 win over Exeter City. However, he suffered a hamstring injury shortly after and was sidelined for two months.

After spending two months on the sidelines, Garita made his return on 19 November 2016, where he started the match, in a 3–0 loss against Grimsby Town. Following his return from injury, he appeared in a number of matches, playing in the attacker role. Two months later, on 14 January 2017, he scored his second goal for the club, in a 4–2 win over Stevenage. Shortly after, his loan spell at Plymouth Argyle was extended until the end of the season.

However, by the end of January, Garita suffered another injury that kept him out for two months. On 8 April 2017, he made his return from injury, coming on as a substitute, in a 2–1 win over Crawley Town. At the end of the 2016–17 season, which saw Plymouth Argyle promoted to League One next season, Garita went on to make 18 appearances and scoring two times in all competitions. For his performance, he was awarded the club's Young Player of the Year.

Charleroi On 31 August 2018, the last day of the 2018 summer transfer window, Garita joined Belgian First Division A side Charleroi and was immediately loaned out to Championnat National side USL Dunkerque.

In June 2019 it was announced, that Garita had been loaned out again, this time to US Boulogne for the 2019–20 season.Après Dunkerque, Garita débarque à Boulogne ! , deltafm.fr, 23 June 2019 A third season of loans to Championnat National sides, followed for the 2020–21 season, with Garita joining FC Villefranche in late June 2020.

Bourg-en-Bresse On 1 July 2021, he signed with Bourg-en-Bresse, again in the Championnat National, on a permanent basis.

Argeș Pitești On 12 July 2022, Garita signed a two-year contract with Argeș Pitești in Romania.

Al-Faisaly On 9 July 2023, Garita joined Saudi First Division League club Al-Faisaly.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva On 8 August 2024, Garita signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the first Israeli Premier League.

Shenzhen Juniors On 21 January 2026, Garita moved to China and joined China League One club Shenzhen Juniors.

Career statistics

+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsChâteauroux B2012–13CFA 21610———16102013–14148———1482014–1584———842015–1641———41Total4223———4223Châteauroux2012–13Ligue 23110——412013–148300—00832014–1513132—001632015–16Championnat National5100—1162Total29642—11349Bristol City2015–16Championship0000——002016–1700——1010Total0000—1010Plymouth Argyle (loan)2016–17League Two14230——172Dunkerque (loan)2018–19Championnat National25924——2713Boulogne (loan)2019–20Championnat National18431——215Villefranche (loan)2020–21Championnat National18710—21218Bourg-en-Bresse 2021–22Championnat National321031——3511Argeș Pitești 2022–23Liga I361220—224014Al Faisaly 2023–24Saudi First Division League331221——3513Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2024–25Israeli Premier League3354200103872025–260000101020Total335421020407Shenzhen Juniors 2026China League One131111——1412FCSB (loan)2026–27Liga I5010——60Career total29810126121084333117

Honours Hapoel Beer Sheva Israel State Cup: 2024–25 Israel Super Cup: 2025

References

External links