1. Background
Alexandre Dimitri Song BillongFrench was born in Douala, Cameroon, on 9 September 1987. He experienced the loss of his father at the young age of three. Following this, his uncle, former footballer Rigobert Song, became a significant paternal figure and a major influence on his decision to pursue a career in football. Initially, Song struggled to find a suitable club or academy to develop his skills in Cameroon. This led him to move to France at the age of 16, where he joined the youth team of SC Bastia. During his formative years, one of the players who greatly inspired Song was Michael Essien.
Beyond his playing career, Song has also contributed to social causes. In 2011, he became an ambassador for Grassroot Soccer, an international non-profit organization that utilizes football as a tool to combat the spread of HIV. Song also holds French nationality, in addition to his Cameroonian citizenship. He is also the cousin of rugby league player Junior Nsemba.
2. Club Career
Alex Song's club career spanned several countries, beginning in France and progressing through England, Spain, Russia, Switzerland, and finally Djibouti. His journey saw him develop from a promising young talent into a prominent defensive midfielder, known for his physicality and passing range.
2.1. Bastia
Song joined the youth team of SC Bastia in the 2003-04 season. He quickly progressed to the first team, making 31 appearances in the following season while Bastia was playing in Ligue 1. During his time at the club, Song was recognized for his high versatility, playing initially as a centre-back before transitioning to a defensive midfielder role, where he earned high regard from coaches and supporters. His performances at Bastia attracted significant attention from several major European clubs, including Internazionale, Juventus, Manchester United, Lyon, and Middlesbrough. Despite Bastia's reluctance to sell, they agreed to loan him to Arsenal for the 2005-06 season. He was eventually sold to Arsenal for a transfer fee of 1.00 M GBP. In total, Song made 32 league appearances for Bastia.
2.2. Arsenal
Song's move to Arsenal began with a trial period during their pre-season training camp in Austria, where he impressed manager Arsène Wenger. On 11 August 2005, Arsenal secured his services on a loan deal for the 2005-06 season. Following this successful loan spell, Arsenal finalized a permanent transfer in June 2006 for a fee of 1.00 M GBP, signing him to a four-year contract.
Song made his Premier League debut on 19 September 2005, coming on as a substitute in Arsenal's 2-0 victory against Everton. Throughout the season, he featured in several UEFA Champions League matches and made a number of Premier League starts, particularly when first-team players were injured or rested. His first goal for Arsenal came on 9 January 2007, in a thrilling 6-3 victory against Liverpool at Anfield in the League Cup quarterfinals.
2.2.1. Loan to Charlton Athletic
On 30 January 2007, Song was loaned to Charlton Athletic until the end of the 2006-07 season. Despite his impressive performances during this temporary spell, Charlton Athletic was ultimately relegated from the Premier League, and Song returned to Arsenal. He made 12 appearances for Charlton Athletic during his loan.
2.2.2. 2005-06 season
Song arrived at Arsenal on loan for the 2005-06 season. He made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Everton on 19 September 2005. Throughout the season, he gained experience by playing in several UEFA Champions League matches and earning Premier League starts, particularly towards the end of the season when key players were either injured or rested.
2.2.3. 2006-07 season
Following his permanent transfer to Arsenal in June 2006, Song continued his development. During this season, he scored his first goal for the club against Liverpool in the League Cup quarterfinals. Later in the season, he was sent on loan to Charlton Athletic to gain more first-team experience.
2.2.4. 2007-08 season
During the 2007-08 season, Song primarily featured as a centre-back for Arsenal's League Cup matches. However, he missed the team's semi-final elimination by Tottenham Hotspur due to his involvement with the Cameroon national team at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. Towards the end of the season, he also started at centre-back in several Premier League matches, notably in a crucial away game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he covered for the regular starter Kolo Touré.
2.2.5. 2008-09 season
The 2008-09 season marked Song's breakthrough year at Arsenal. The then 21-year-old established himself as a vital component of Arsène Wenger's squad, making 48 appearances across all competitions. He enjoyed his most productive and impactful campaign to date, emerging as a strong and powerful presence in Arsenal's midfield, forming an effective partnership with Cesc Fàbregas. Wenger commented on his progress, stating, "I brought him here aged 17 and worked very hard with him, we worked hard because I felt he had the talent to become a good player. I know that the opinions are changing about him now."
On 21 October 2008, Song scored his first goal in European competition for Arsenal against Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League. His first league goal, and third overall for the Gunners, came on 11 April 2009 against Wigan Athletic, a match Arsenal won 4-1, where he dribbled past several opponents before calmly finishing.
2.2.6. 2009-10 season
Song commenced the 2009-10 season strongly, featuring in all but one of Arsenal's initial 12 league fixtures. His consistent and commanding performances in the heart of midfield, which allowed Arsenal's creative attackers to flourish, solidified his position as one of the first names on the team sheet. He was voted third in the Arsenal.com player of the month award for October, behind Cesc Fàbregas and Robin van Persie. On 25 November 2009, Song committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new long-term contract, extending his stay until 2014. On 30 December 2009, he scored his second league goal for Arsenal, completing a 4-1 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park. This season also saw Arsenal shift from their traditional 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3, with Song excelling in the crucial deep-lying midfield role, silencing initial skepticism and showcasing his adaptability and talent.
2.2.7. 2010-11 season
Song maintained his status as a regular starter during the 2010-11 season, establishing himself effectively in front of the back four. On 11 September 2010, he scored Arsenal's 1,000th Premier League goal under Arsène Wenger in a 4-1 win against Bolton Wanderers. However, in the subsequent game, he was sent off for two bookable offences. Song's role in the midfield became more adventurous, actively supporting the forward line with his movement. He played the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on 28 August 2010. On 19 October 2010, he scored the opening goal in Arsenal's 5-1 victory over Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.
Song continued his goal-scoring form, netting his third goal of the season on 24 October 2010, the second goal in a 3-0 away victory against Manchester City at Eastlands. On 30 October 2010, he scored a crucial 88th-minute diving header from a Gaël Clichy cross against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium, securing an important 1-0 league victory for Arsenal. On 27 December 2010, Song opened the scoring in a 3-1 win over Chelsea at the Emirates. In February 2011, his car was impounded by Hertfordshire Police after he was caught speeding and failed to provide the necessary documentation. Throughout the 2010-11 season, he made 42 appearances across all competitions, contributing five goals and three assists for the Gunners.
2.2.8. 2011-12 season
With the departure of Cesc Fàbregas to Barcelona, Song was tasked with a greater playmaking role, providing assists alongside Aaron Ramsey. During a league match against Newcastle United, Song was charged with improper conduct and received a three-match ban for stamping on Joey Barton. On 24 September 2011, he scored his first goal of the season in a 3-0 home victory against Bolton. He provided a crucial assist to Robin van Persie following a dribble in a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on 23 November, securing Arsenal's place in the last 16. Arsène Wenger praised Song's unexpected development, stating, "I thought about that Fulham game recently, It shows that players need to be given time and confidence. Unfortunately at the big clubs you cannot always do it. He is one of the players who surprised everybody. You wouldn't expect what he delivers at the moment."
Song continued to showcase his assisting prowess, setting up Van Persie's volley in a 1-0 victory against Everton, which was also Arsenal's 125th anniversary game. He demonstrated his vision in an FA Cup match against Leeds United, playing a through ball past four defenders to the returning legend, Thierry Henry, in a 1-0 win. He then provided two assists in consecutive matches: one for Theo Walcott in a 5-2 home victory against Tottenham, and the winning goal for Van Persie against Liverpool at Anfield with a delightful long-ball in the dying minutes, securing a 2-1 victory. These performances highlighted Song's importance not only as a defensive anchor but also as a playmaking midfielder. On 24 March 2012, he provided an overhead pass assist to Theo Walcott against Aston Villa in a 3-0 win. His partnership with Van Persie further flourished on 5 May 2012, as he delivered a trademark chip to assist the Dutchman in netting the equalizer against Norwich City in a 3-3 draw, marking his 12th assist of the season. At the end of the season, fans voted him in second place for the Arsenal Player of the Season award.
2.3. Barcelona
On 20 August 2012, Alex Song completed a transfer to Barcelona, signing a five-year contract for a reported transfer fee of 15.00 M GBP. He made his debut for the Catalan giants on 29 August 2012, coming on as a substitute for the final 15 minutes against Real Madrid in the 2012 Supercopa de España. He finished the match with a perfect passing record.
In his inaugural season, Song featured in 20 matches during Barcelona's La Liga-winning campaign. He scored his only goal of the season on 17 November 2012, in a 3-1 home victory against Real Zaragoza. For the 2013-14 season, he changed his shirt number from 25 to 17, the number he had previously worn at Arsenal. Song was an unused substitute in the 2014 Copa del Rey Final, which Barcelona lost 2-1 to Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium.
2.4. West Ham United (loan)
On 30 August 2014, Song joined West Ham United on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona. He was introduced to the fans on the same day, prior to their home match against Southampton. Song made his debut for West Ham on 15 September 2014, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 draw against Hull City. He played 31 games for the club during that season, including three appearances in the FA Cup. While initially praised for his strong early-season form, his performances, along with West Ham's overall team form, saw a decline towards the end of the season.
In August 2015, West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan announced that an agreement had been reached with Barcelona for Song to sign a three-year permanent contract, pending a medical examination. However, on 1 September, it was confirmed that he would instead return to West Ham on another season-long loan, with the option for the club to extend the loan for an additional season. He made 15 appearances for West Ham during the 2015-16 season.
2.5. Rubin Kazan
On 21 July 2016, Rubin Kazan announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Alex Song from Barcelona, subject to a medical. The transfer was officially completed on 1 August 2016, with Song joining the Russian club on a free transfer after his contract with Barcelona was mutually terminated.
In January 2018, Song was granted permission by Rubin Kazan to train with his former club Arsenal while he sought a new club. Despite this, he remained registered with Rubin Kazan when the Russian Premier League resumed on 2 March 2018 after its winter break. However, he was removed from their league registration list on 13 March 2018. On 2 April 2018, it was reported that Rubin Kazan had filed a complaint with the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber, seeking 40.00 M EUR in damages from Song for an alleged breach of contract.
2.6. Sion
Alex Song signed with Swiss Super League club Sion on a free transfer on 14 August 2018. During his time at Sion, he also made six appearances for Sion II in the Swiss Promotion League during the 2018-19 season. In March 2020, Song was among nine players who were dismissed by Sion after they reportedly refused to take a pay cut in response to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2.7. Arta/Solar7
In November 2020, Song made a significant move to Djiboutian club Arta/Solar7, signing a permanent two-year deal. During his tenure with the club, he achieved considerable success, winning the Djibouti Premier League title in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He also lifted the Djibouti Cup in 2020-21 and 2021-22. On 14 November 2023, Alex Song officially announced his retirement from professional football, concluding a career that saw him make 332 senior club appearances and 49 senior international appearances.
3. International Career
Alex Song had a notable international career representing the Cameroon national football team, participating in various youth and senior tournaments.
3.1. Youth career
Song began his international career representing France at the youth level, playing for the France U16 team from 2002 to 2003, where he made 6 appearances. He later opted to represent his birth country, Cameroon, joining the Cameroon U17 team from 2003 to 2004, making 3 appearances. With the Cameroon U17 squad, he was part of the team that won the 2003 African U-17 Championship. In 2008, he also represented the Cameroon U23 team, making 3 appearances and participating in the 2008 Summer Olympics football tournament.
3.2. Senior career
Song received his first senior cap for the Cameroon national team in 2005. He was included in the Cameroon squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. In Cameroon's opening group match, a 4-2 defeat against defending champions Egypt, Song came on as a substitute for Stéphane Mbia at half-time, joining his uncle Rigobert Song on the pitch. Throughout the tournament, he proved to be a revelation in defense for Cameroon, earning a Man of the Match award in the semi-final. Although he went off injured in the final against Egypt, he was still named in the Tournament Best XI, alongside fellow Cameroonian Geremi.
Song was again called up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and was the sole Cameroonian player to be named in the Team of the Tournament. He was also part of the Cameroon squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He did not feature in his side's opening 1-0 loss to Japan, but played the full 90 minutes in Cameroon's disappointing 2-1 loss to Denmark, a result that confirmed Les Lions Indomptables as the first country to be eliminated from the World Cup. Song was an unused substitute in Cameroon's final group stage match, a 2-1 loss to the Netherlands, a game which marked his uncle Rigobert's final national team appearance.
Song participated in his second FIFA World Cup at the 2014 tournament in Brazil. In the team's second group match, he was controversially sent off for violent conduct after striking Mario Mandžukić with an elbow as Cameroon suffered a 4-0 defeat to Croatia, leading to their elimination from the tournament. Song later issued an apology to Mandžukić and to the people of Cameroon for his dismissal. FIFA subsequently sanctioned Song with a three-match ban from competitive international matches and imposed a fine of 22.30 K USD. The match itself later became subject to an investigation for potential match-fixing following allegations in a German newspaper. In December 2014, despite being in good form for his club West Ham United, Song was omitted by Cameroon coach Volker Finke from the squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
On 6 January 2015, Alex Song announced his retirement from international football at the age of 27, having earned 49 caps for Cameroon. He cited his desire to focus on rebuilding his domestic career with West Ham as the primary reason for his decision.
4. Playing Style
Alex Song was a highly versatile footballer, capable of operating effectively in various positions across the midfield and defense. He could play as a central midfielder, a holding midfielder, or even as a centre-back. His playing style was primarily characterized by his immense energy, physical strength, and exceptional ball-winning capabilities, allowing him to cover significant ground quickly.
Despite his robust defensive attributes, Song was also comfortable with the ball at his feet and possessed strong passing accuracy. In 2012, former Barcelona goalkeeper and sports director Andoni Zubizarreta described Song as "a player who is good in the air, is physically powerful and tactically astute." Interestingly, former Cameroon coach Javier Clemente once remarked that Song was a "much better player in attack than he is defensively." This observation highlights Song's ability to transition rapidly between defensive and offensive phases of the game; he was adept at pushing forward, carrying the ball himself, or initiating attacking plays with his passing after winning possession.
5. Career Statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bastia | 2004-05 | Ligue 1 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 35 | 0 | |||
| Arsenal (loan) | 2005-06 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Arsenal | 2006-07 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 6 | 1 | |
| 2007-08 | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2008-09 | Premier League | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | - | 48 | 2 | ||
| 2009-10 | Premier League | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | - | 38 | 1 | ||
| 2010-11 | Premier League | 31 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | - | 42 | 5 | ||
| 2011-12 | Premier League | 34 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | - | 46 | 1 | ||
| Total | 138 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 10 | ||
| Charlton Athletic (loan) | 2006-07 | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 0 | ||
| Barcelona | 2012-13 | La Liga | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| 2013-14 | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| Total | 39 | 1 | 12 | 0 | - | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 65 | 1 | |||
| West Ham United (loan) | 2014-15 | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2015-16 | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 40 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 46 | 0 | ||||
| Rubin Kazan | 2016-17 | Russian Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 16 | 0 | |||
| 2017-18 | Russian Premier League | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 7 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 23 | 1 | |||||
| Sion II | 2018-19 | Promotion League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Sion | 2018-19 | Swiss Super League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2019-20 | Swiss Super League | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 12 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 22 | 1 | |||||
| Arta/Solar7 | 2020-21 | Djibouti Premier League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 12 | 1 | |||
| 2021-22 | Djibouti Premier League | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 11 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 23 | 3 | |||||
| Career total | 337 | 12 | 36 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 53 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 441 | 16 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | 2005 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 0 | |
6. Honours
Alex Song achieved several team titles and individual accolades throughout his professional career.
6.1. Club
Arsenal
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2010-11
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2012-13
- Supercopa de España: 2013; runner-up: 2012
- Copa del Rey runner-up: 2013-14
Arta/Solar7
- Djibouti Premier League: 2020-21, 2021-22
- Djibouti Cup: 2020-21, 2021-22
6.2. Individual
- African Player of the Year Third Place: 2012
- Africa Cup of Nations Best XI: 2008, 2010
- CAF Team of the Year: 2009, 2012
International
- African U-17 Championship: 2003 (with Cameroon U17)
- Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2008 (with Cameroon)