How did Stéphane Sessegnon's transfer to PSG happen?

Before Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Before Neymar Jr. There was Stéphane Sessegnon. Between 2008 and 2011, the Beninese star proudly wore PSG’s number 10 shirt, at a time when the Parisian club had yet to enter its Qatari era.

Trained at Requins de l’Atlantique, then moving through US Créteil and Le Mans, Sessegnon quickly caught the eyes of scouts with his talent and ability to make a difference. Now retired, Benin’s all-time top scorer with 24 goals in 89 caps looked back on this historic transfer in an interview with PodLab:

We were in the middle of the season. My agent called me and said PSG wants you. With four matches left, the PSG coach called me privately. He told me: "I promise you, if we avoid relegation, I’ll sign you automatically."

But at the end of the season, Le Mans wanted to extend his contract. Rudi Garcia, then the coach, offered him the captain’s armband and a significant salary increase. He agreed. But everything changed:

Two days later, I got a notification: Rudi Garcia signs with Lille. Oops. I immediately called my agent. And then, Paul Le Guen reached out to me. At that point, you just can’t say no. Even though I dreamed of playing in England, it was still PSG.

With 105 appearances, 10 goals, a Coupe de France trophy in 2010, and some unforgettable individual moments, Stéphane Sessegnon left a lasting mark on his era at Paris Saint-Germain.

Aliou Toundé |

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