Johan Djourou

Johan Djourou
Djourou with Switzerland in 2015
Personal information
Full name Danon Issouf Johannes Djourou Gbadjere[1]
Date of birth (1987-01-18) 18 January 1987 (age 37)[2]
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast[3]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[4]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1998–2003 Étoile Carouge
2003–2004 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2014 Arsenal 86 (1)
2007–2008Birmingham City (loan) 13 (0)
2013Hannover 96 (loan) 14 (0)
2013–2014Hamburger SV (loan) 24 (0)
2014–2017 Hamburger SV 74 (2)
2017–2018 Antalyaspor 18 (1)
2018–2019 SPAL 5 (0)
2020 Sion 2 (0)
2020 Neuchâtel Xamax 5 (0)
2020–2021 Nordsjælland 11 (0)
Total 252 (4)
International career
2001–2002 Switzerland U16 4 (0)
2002 Switzerland U17 4 (0)
2003–2004 Switzerland U19 8 (1)
2004–2005 Switzerland U20 9 (1)
2006 Switzerland U21 2 (0)
2006–2018 Switzerland[5] 76 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Danon Issouf Johannes Djourou Gbadjere (pronounced [dʒuʁu]; born 18 January 1987), known as Johan Djourou, is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a centre back.[6] According to his profile on the website of his former club Arsenal, Djourou possesses "pace, power and whole-hearted commitment" in addition to his versatility.[7][8]

He played as a defensive midfielder in his youth for former club Étoile Carouge, but when he arrived at Arsenal, he was converted to a central defender. He occasionally filled in at full back for Arsenal and played several games in central midfield while on loan to Birmingham City. He spent time on loan at Hannover 96 in 2013 before joining fellow Bundesliga team Hamburger SV, initially on loan, later that year. After three years with Hamburg he went on to play for Turkish Super Lig club Antalyaspor, SPAL of Serie A, the Swiss Super League's Sion and Neuchâtel Xamax, and finally Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga.

Djourou represented Switzerland from 2006 to 2018, earning 76 caps. He was called up by the nation at three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships.

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Switzerland" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Danon Issouf Johannes Djourou Gbadjere". Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Yohan Djourou". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Johan Djourou: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Kader A-Team: Johannes Djourou" [A Team Squad: Johan Djourou] (in German). Swiss Football Federation. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Johan Djourou". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Players: Johan Djourou". Arsenal FC. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Player Profile: Johan Djourou". UEFA. Retrieved 24 April 2017.