Zachary Christopher Athekame (born 13 December 2004) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a right-back and right wing-back for club Lyon, on loan from club AC Milan, and the Switzerland national team.
Club career Early career Athekame spent his youth career at Swiss clubs Athlétique-Régina FC, Olympique de Genève FC, Servette and Meyrin.
Neuchâtel Xamax He joined Neuchâtel Xamax in February 2022, then playing in the Swiss Challenge League, subsequently signing his first professional contract with the club on 12 December 2022.
Young Boys On 30 December 2023, Swiss Super League club Young Boys announced an agreement to sign Athekame until 2028, and he was loaned back to Neuchâtel Xamax for the second half of the 2023–24 season.
AC Milan On 15 August 2025, Athekame signed a five-year contract with Italian club AC Milan. Later that year, on 24 October, he scored his first league goal for the club in stoppage time of a 2–2 draw with Pisa.
Loan to Lyon On 14 August 2026, Athekame joined French side Lyon, on loan for the 2026–27 season.
International career Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Athekame's father is Nigerian and his mother is Swiss from Neuchâtel. He is a Swiss youth international, having debuted for the Switzerland U21s in September 2023.
He was called-up for the first time with the senior Switzerland national team by head coach Murat Yakin for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Slovenia on 13 October 2025, in which Athekame did not play during a goalless draw.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEurope OtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNeuchâtel Xamax2022–23Swiss Challenge League12000—201402023–24Swiss Challenge League35220——372Total47220—20512Young Boys2024–25Swiss Super League3005180—4312025–26Swiss Super League40———40Total3405180—471 AC Milan2025–26Serie A27210—10292Lyon (loan)2026–27Ligue 1520010—62Career total11368190301337
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSwitzerland202640Total40
References
External links