Patrice Sousia

Patrice Sousia (born 18 January 1999) is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a forward for Mollerussa.

Patrice Sousia

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth	Douala, Cameroon[2]
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Samuel Eto'o Academy
2012–2015	Barcelona
2017–2018	Barcelona
2017–2018	→ Damm (youth loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Minerva	6	(0)
2019	Tenisca	11	(2)
2020–2021	Calahorra B	21	(3)
2022–	Mollerussa	21	(3)
International career
2018	Cameroon U20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Douala, Cameroon, Sousia began his career at the Samuel Eto'o Academy, before moving to Spain to join Barcelona in 2012.^[3] However, due to his age at the time of signing, this deal came under scrutiny from international body FIFA, who sanctioned Barcelona for the transfer, handing Sousia a ban until he turned eighteen.^[4] He was later told by FIFA that he was unable to train at Barcelona's facilities, nor live on the La Masia campus.^[5]

After being kicked out of the club, and made homeless by the FIFA verdict, teammate Álex Collado's family offered Sousia refuge, welcoming him into their home.^[5] While staying with the Collados, Sousia trained with Prat, the club Álex's brother, Jonathan, played for.^[5] At Prat, he was helped by teammate Federico Bessone and manager Pedro Dólera to settle and come to terms with the situation.^[6]

He stayed with the Collados for a few weeks, before moving into the Joaquim Blume d'Esplugues - a residence for athletes.^[7] On his eighteenth birthday, Sousia returned to Barcelona, who had been covering his expenses while he was banned.^[6][8] However, his return was not seen as successful by his coaches, who told him after three months that he would be sold in the summer.^[7] Following interest from Cornellà and Damm, he joined the latter on loan in late 2017.^[7]

After leaving Barcelona, he played for Tercera División sides Minerva and Tenisca.^[9] In July 2020, Sousia signed for Calahorra, being assigned to the club's B team.^[3][10]

International career

In 2018, Sousia was called up to the Cameroon national under-20 football team.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 4 January 2023^[2][12]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Minerva	2018–19	Tercera División	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Tenisca			11	2	0	0	0	0	11	2
Calahorra B	2020–21		21	3	0	0	0	0	21	3
Mollerussa	2021–22	Primera Catalana	11	1	0	0	0	0	11	1
	2022–23		10	2	2[a]	0	2[b]	2	14	4
	Total		21	3	2	0	2	2	25	5
Career total			59	8	2	0	2	2	63	10

Notes

1. Appearances in the Copa del Rey
2. Appearances in the Copa Lleida Amater

References

1. "Patrice Sousia". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
2. Patrice Sousia at Soccerway
3. "Patrice Sousia firma por el Calahorra B" [Patrice Sousia signs for Calahorra B]. larioja.com (in Spanish). 30 July 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
4. Gea, Albert (2 April 2014). "FIFA Punishes FC Barcelona For Alleged 'Illegal Deals'". businessinsider.in. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
5. Domènech, Oriol (7 September 2015). "La FIFA echa a Patrice de La Masia" [FIFA throws Patrice out of La Masia]. mundodeportivo.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
6. Font, Sergi (18 January 2017). "Sousia despierta de su pesadilla con el Barça" [Sousia wakes up from his nightmare with Barça]. abc.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
7. Llimós, Albert (9 November 2017). "Un nen perseguit que només vol ser futbolista" [A persecuted boy who only wants to be a footballer]. ara.ad (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
8. Llimós, Albert (27 February 2017). "La gran víctima de la FIFA pel cas Masia, Patrice Sousia, ja pot jugar amb el Barça" [FIFA's biggest victim in the Masia case, Patrice Sousia, can now play for Barça]. ara.ad (in Catalan). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
9. "El camerunés Patrice Sousia, nuevo jugador del CD Calahorra B de tercera división" [The Cameroonian Patrice Sousia, new player of the third division CD Calahorra B]. labrujulacalahorra.com (in Spanish). 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
10. "MERCATO: Patrice Sousia s'engage au CD Calahorra" [MERCATO: Patrice Sousia commits to CD Calahorra]. la-sportive.com (in French). 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
11. Grífol, Jordi (18 June 2018). "Patrice Sousia, convocado con Camerún sub-20" [Patrice Sousia, called up with Cameroon sub-20]. vavel.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
12. Patrice Sousia at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)