Saidou Khan (born 5 December 1995) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Club Africain and the Gambia national team.
Early and personal life Khan grew up in Sanchaba in The Gambia; his father worked as a soldier on a peacekeeping mission in Liberia, and later moved to London to work as a security guard. Khan grew up "obsessed" with football; his favourite player was AC Milan's Kaká, and he is nicknamed 'Kaka' in The Gambia. Khan's father died of cancer when Khan was 12 years old. Khan moved to England in 2010, two years after his father's death.
Club career Khan spent his early career in English non-league football with Tooting & Mitcham United, Dulwich Hamlet, Carshalton Athletic, Chipstead and Kingstonian. During this time Khan studied at the University of East London and worked part-time at a Lidl supermarket. He later played in the National League South with Maidstone United, and the National League with Dagenham & Redbridge. He also has two unsuccessful trials with Football League club Milton Keynes Dons; he nearly quit football after his second rejection.
He signed for National League club Chesterfield in July 2021, on a two-year contract. By November 2021 he was the club's joint-top scorer that season. The club rejected a transfer bid for Khan in January 2022. He signed for Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee in July 2022.
He moved on loan to Tranmere Rovers in August 2024.
On 9 May 2025, Swindon announced the player would be leaving in June when his contract expired.
He subsequently joined Tunisian side Club Africain.
International career In May 2023, Khan received his first call-up to the Gambia national side ahead of their 2023 AFCON qualifier against South Sudan. He debuted with the Gambia in a 1–1 tie 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification with Madagascar on 11 October 2024.
Career statistics
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTooting & Mitcham United2014–15Isthmian League Division One South9000—0090Dulwich Hamlet2015–16Isthmian League Premier Division0000—1010Carshalton Athletic (loan)2015–16Isthmian League Division One SouthChipstead (loan)2015–16Isthmian League Division One SouthKingstonian2016–17Isthmian League Premier Division14000—10150Chipstead2016–17Isthmian League Division One South2017–18Isthmian League South Division25020—3Two appearances in the FA Trophy, one in the Alan Turvey Trophy03002018–19Isthmian League South Central Division4010—1060Total290300040360Tooting & Mitcham United2018–19Isthmian League South Central Division252——00252Maidstone United2019–20National League South28052—203522020–21National League South4010—2171Total320620041423Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)2020–21National League110———110Chesterfield2021–22National League37631—20427Swindon Town2022–23League Two3511000103712023–24League Two3111010003312024–25League Two0000000000Total662201010702Tranmere Rovers (loan)2024–25League Two100000000100Club Africain2025–26Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 16000000060Career total239101431013126714
References