1. Overview
Désiré Nonka-Maho Doué (born 3 June 2005) is a French professional footballer who primarily plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Paris Saint-Germain. He is widely considered one of the most talented young prospects in European football. Doué is a youth international for France, having represented the national team at the under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels, and also played for the Olympic team in 2024.
2. Early life and background
Désiré Doué's formative years were deeply rooted in football, beginning his journey at a young age within the youth academy system of Rennes. His family also has a strong connection to professional football, with several members pursuing careers in the sport.
2.1. Childhood and upbringing
Doué began playing football with the youth academy of Rennes at the age of five in 2011. He started his senior career with their reserves in 2021 and began training with the senior side in February 2021. On 14 April 2022, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes, valid until 2024.
2.2. Family
Désiré Doué comes from a family with a strong footballing background. His brother, Guéla Doué, is also a professional footballer. Additionally, his cousins, Yann Gboho and Marc-Olivier Doué, have also pursued careers as professional footballers.
3. Club career
Doué's professional career began at Stade Rennais F.C. where he quickly progressed through the ranks, making a significant impact before securing a high-profile transfer to Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
3.1. Stade Rennais F.C.
On 7 August 2022, Doué made his professional debut for Rennes as a substitute in a 1-0 Ligue 1 defeat at home to Lorient. He scored his first professional goal on 31 August in a 3-1 league win at home over Brest, becoming the first player born in 2005 to score in any of the major five European leagues.
On 6 October, Doué scored his first European goal, an 89th-minute winner for Rennes in a 2-1 UEFA Europa League home victory over Dynamo Kyiv. This goal made him the youngest ever French scorer in European club competitions at 17 years, four months, and four days of age. Just three days later, on 9 October, Doué scored a brilliant half-volley in the Derby Breton against Nantes, sealing a 3-0 win in less than 60 seconds after coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute. On 2 November, Doué extended his contract with Rennes for another year, until 2025.
On 9 April 2023, Doué was substituted out in the final minutes of a 3-1 defeat against Lyon, despite having been introduced from the bench only 18 minutes earlier. Rennes manager Bruno Génésio was critical of the midfielder in his post-match comments, but also offered encouragement, stating, "It does not mean I don't have great trust in him and that he'll fail to make a great career, but some things need to be understood faster." Doué finished the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season with 29 appearances, 11 of which were as a starter.
He scored his first goal in the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season on 1 October 2023, in a 3-1 win against Nantes. On 26 January 2024, playing as a left winger against Lyon, he assisted Rennes' first goal by Martin Terrier and scored the second in a 3-2 victory.
3.2. Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
On 17 August 2024, Doué joined fellow Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer worth 50.00 M EUR, not including bonuses. He signed a contract valid until 30 June 2029, reportedly rejecting an offer from German club Bayern Munich to do so.
Doué made his debut for the reigning French champions on 23 August, coming on as a substitute in a 6-0 win over Montpellier, wearing the number 14 shirt. In a post-match interview, Doué affirmed that he did not regret his decision to sign for PSG over Bayern. In the next match on 1 September, he recorded his first assist for PSG, a cross for a Randal Kolo Muani header that sealed a 3-1 victory over Lille.
On 18 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut at the Parc des Princes against Spanish side Girona. He scored his first Champions League goal on 10 December in a 3-0 away win over RB Salzburg. On 15 December, Doué received his first man of the match award in Ligue 1 as a PSG player for his performance in the 3-1 home win against Lyon, where he provided the assist for Ousmane Dembélé's opening goal and won a penalty in the second half, which was converted by Vitinha.
4. International career
Désiré Doué has represented France at various youth levels, showcasing his talent on the international stage, and also participated in the Olympic Games.
4.1. Youth career
Doué is a youth international for France, having represented the France U17s and France U19s. He played for the U17s in their winning campaign at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and for the U19s in the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers. Doué debuted for the France under-21 team on 13 October 2023 in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he received two yellow cards and was sent off before the final whistle.
4.2. Olympic team
On 22 March 2024, Doué made his debut for the France Olympic football team in a friendly match against Cote D'Ivoire, scoring two goals in a 3-2 win. He played in five matches at the 2024 Olympic Games, including a notable appearance from the bench in the final against Spain, which France lost 5-3, having to settle for the silver medal in the tournament it hosted.
5. Style of play and reception
Doué's natural position is an attacking midfielder, but his versatility allows him to play deeper in midfield, on either wing, or as a forward, depending on the formation. He is described as a dynamic box-to-box playmaker with an eye for goal. Doué has been noted for his supreme agility, acceleration, and pace, which, combined with his excellent dribbling, shooting, and passing technique, allows him to be a potent offensive threat in a variety of situations.
According to journalist Liam Tharme, who analyzed the player for The Athletic, Doué's super-strength is ball carrying. He ranked inside the top two percent of central midfielders in the top five European leagues over the 2022-2023 season for progressive carries (3.4 per 90), and the top one percent for successful dribbles (3.9). ESPN describes Doué as "an entertainer at heart, full of tricks and skills designed to shake up opponents." Despite being primarily used as an attacking player, Doué has also been praised for his defensive contribution, demonstrated by his average of more than three tackles per game in Ligue 1, which has placed him in the top six percent of midfielders in the league.
Because of his creativity and athleticism, Doué has been compared to Real Madrid midfielder and former Rennes youth product Eduardo Camavinga. Rennes manager Bruno Génésio has spoken highly of Doué, calling the youngster "physically already equipped" and further complimenting him: "He reads the game very well. Technically, right foot and even left foot, he's complete, with good control on both. Away from the pitch he's a dream. Easy, calm, with a streak of leadership whilst still asking for advice. He's both care-free and conscientious in his work. He's already a pro in his head." Veteran midfielder Nemanja Matić, who signed for Rennes in the summer of 2023, also stated that Doué has great potential.
6. Personal life
Born in Angers, Pays de la Loire, France, Désiré Doué was born to an Ivorian father and a French mother. He holds both French and Ivorian nationalities.
7. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | French Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rennes II | 2021-22 | National 3 | 10 | 1 | - | - | - | 10 | 1 | |||
| 2022-23 | National 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 11 | 1 | - | - | - | 11 | 1 | |||||
| Rennes | 2022-23 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | - | 34 | 4 | |
| 2023-24 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 42 | 4 | ||
| Total | 57 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 1 | - | 76 | 8 | |||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2024-25 | Ligue 1 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 7 |
| Career total | 89 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 122 | 16 | ||
8. Honours
Paris Saint-Germain
- Trophée des Champions: 2024
France U17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2022
France U23
- Summer Olympics silver medal: 2024