Abdoulaye Kanté (born 4 March 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Brooklyn FC in the USL Championship. After starting in his native France, Kanté has played in the lower divisions in Portugal, Belgium, and Finland before he moved to the United States in the winter 2026.
Career Kanté started his senior career with French club Bourges Foot 18 in 2018.
During the 2019–2020 season he was loaned out to Portuguese club Vila Real in the country’s third-tier.A.Kanté, SOCCERWAY
In the first half of the 2020–21 season Kanté was in the La Louvière Centre squad in Belgium, before returning to Portugal and joining Leixões. In the 2021–22 season he played for the club's U23 youth team in the Liga Revelação.A.Kanté, worldfootball.net
Ekenäs IF In August 2022, Kanté signed with Ekenäs IF (EIF), playing in Ykkönen, the Finnish second-tier league. After the season, his contract was extended for one year.ABDOULAYE KANTÉ FÖRLÄNGER MED EIF, EIF, 18 October 2022 At the end of the next 2023 season, Kanté helped the club to win the promotion to Finland's premier division Veikkausliiga for the first time in 90 years, and only the second time in the club's entire history.Abdoulaye Kanté stor matchhjälte med sina två mål för EIF, Västra Nyland, 2 October 2023EIF NOUSI VEIKKAUSLIIGAAN – ABDOULAYE KANTE LÖI ALKUTAHDIT AIVAN MIELETTÖMÄLLÄ VOLLEYMAALILLA, pallomeri.net, 2 October 2023 He scored a brace and provided an assist in the decisive 3–1 away win against Turun Palloseura (TPS) on 2 October 2023, which secured the Ykkönen title and the promotion for EIF.Video: Abdoulaye Kante laukoi Eurogoalin – EIF nousee Veikkausliigaan!, puoliaika.com, 2 October 2023
Ilves On 1 December 2023, a fellow Veikkausliiga side Ilves announced the signing of Kanté on a two-year deal on a free transfer.TERVETULOA ILVEKSEEN, ABDOULAYE KANTÉ!, ilvesedustus.fi, 1 December 2023 He debuted with his new club on 27 January 2024, in a Finnish League Cup win against Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS).Ilves haki Liigacupin avauspisteet Kuopiosta, Veikkausliiga, 27 January 2024
Ekenäs IF (loan) On 7 March 2024, Kanté was loaned back to EIF for a larger amount of guaranteed playing minutes.ABDOULAYE KANTÉ SIIRTYY LAINASOPIMUKSELLA EIF:IIN, ilvesedustus.fiAbdoulaye Kanté palaa "kotiin" - EIF lainaa tutun pelaajan Ilvekseltä, veikkausliiga.com, 7 March 2024 On 26 April, Kanté scored his first Veikkausliiga goal, in a 2–1 away defeat against Inter Turku.EIF:n kiri ei riittänyt – "Totta kai olemme pettyneitä", veikkausliiga.com, 26 April 2024 On 19 June, in a home match against IFK Mariehamn, Kanté was sent off on the first minute of the match, with his second red card of the season.EIF lähti karvaalla tappiolla juhannusyöhön, etela.com, 20 June 2024
Return to Ilves On 23 July 2024, Kanté was called back to Ilves.Abdoulaye Kanté palaa lainalta Ilvekseen, ilvesfootball.com, 23 July 2024 During the latter part of the season, Kanté made five appearances in the league, and additionally two appearances in the UECL qualifiers. On 10 January 2025, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.Abdoulaye Kantén sopimus purettu yhteisymmärryksessä, ilvesfootball.com, 10 January 2025
Lahti On 13 February 2025, Kanté signed with Lahti in Finnish second-tier Ykkösliiga.Abdoulaye Kanté FC Lahden hyökkäykseen, fclahti.fi, 13 February 2025 On 25 May, Kanté scored his first goal in Ykkösliiga, the winning goal in a 5–3 home win over Käpylän Pallo.Abdoulaye Kanten voittomaali sykähdytti Lahden stadionilla – Otso Koskinen nautiskeli hattutempun, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 25 May 2025
Brooklyn FC On 26 February 2026, Brooklyn FC announced they had signed Kanté to a contract for the 2026 USL Championship season.
Personal life Born in France, Kanté is of Malian descent.
Career statistics GSA A.Kanté, globalsportsarchive.com
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBourges2018–19National 315000——150Vila Real (loan)2019–20Campeonato de Portugal22000——220La Louvière Centre2020–21Belgian Division 11000——10Leixões2021–22Liga Portugal 20000——00Ekenäs IF2022Ykkönen10000——1002023Ykkönen2673042—339Total367304200439Ilves2024Veikkausliiga50—4020110Ilves II2024Kakkonen11———11Ekenäs IF (loan)2024Veikkausliiga10130——131Lahti2025Ykkösliiga310031–62Career total9310601132011213
Honours Ekenäs IF Ykkönen: 2023REF soccerway Ilves Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2024Ilveksen päävalmentaja hopeasta: ”Voitettu mitali”, Yle, 19 October 2024
References
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