Cheick Keita (footballer, born 1996)

For the French football centre-back, see Cheick Keita (footballer, born 2003).

Cheick Keita

Personal information
Full name	Cheick Keita[1]
Date of birth	(1996-04-16) 16 April 1996 (age 28)[2][3]
Place of birth	Paris, France
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	L'Aquila
Number	14
Youth career
	FC Solitaires
	Paris FC
0000–2011	INF Clairefontaine
2011–2014	Monaco
2014–2015	Virtus Entella
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Virtus Entella	45	(0)
2017–2020	Birmingham City	11	(0)
2017–2018	→ Bologna (loan)	3	(0)
2018–2019	→ Eupen (loan)	24	(2)
2021–2023	Gorica	43	(0)
2024–	L'Aquila	10	(1)
International career
	Mali U20	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 November 2024

Cheick Keita (born 16 April 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a left back for Italian Serie D club L'Aquila.

Keita began his senior career in Italy with Virtus Entella before joining English second-tier club Birmingham City in January 2017. He spent the 2017–18 Serie A season on loan to Bologna and the following season on loan to Belgian First Division A club Eupen, and was released by Birmingham at the end of the 2019–20 season. He joined Gorica in February 2021.

Born in France, Keita represented Mali at under-20 level and has been an unused substitute for the senior team.

Early and personal life

Of Malian descent,^[4] Keita was born in 1996 in Paris,^[3] where he grew up in the Cité rouge area of the 19th arrondissement.^[4] A childhood friend, Mohamed Sylla, who became a rapper under the name of MHD, made reference to Keita in his song "Afro Trap Pt. 3 (Champions League)";^[4] as of September 2021^[update], its YouTube video had received more than 120 million views.^[5] Keita played football for a local youth team, FC Solitaires, before joining Paris FC.^[4] He was selected to attend INF Clairefontaine, and spent three years in Monaco's youth system before being released.^[6]

Club career

Virtus Entella

After trials with French clubs failed to produce a contract, Keita joined the youth team of Italian second-tier club Virtus Entella.^[4] On 17 January 2015, he was an unused substitute in a Serie B match against Bari.^[7] Early the following season, on 12 September, the player made his senior debut in Serie B against A.C. Cesena at Stadio Comunale, playing the game as a starter under coach Alfredo Aglietti. He was shown a yellow card in the 32nd minute.^[7][8] On 24 October, Keita was sent off after 75 minutes of the match against Bari for receiving two yellow cards.^[9] He was again sent off on 26 March 2016 against Como, this time in stoppage time.^[10] He played 32 games (including a game in the Coppa Italia) and was shown eleven yellow cards and two red.^[7] After considerable transfer window interest from what website TuttoB.com dubbed "half of Serie A", Keita remained with Entella.^[11] He made 14 league appearances in the first half of the 2016–17 season, with only one yellow card.^[7]

Birmingham City

On 19 January 2017, Keita signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Birmingham City of the EFL Championship (English second tier); the fee was undisclosed.^[12] According to manager Gianfranco Zola, "Everybody speaks very highly about him in Italy and a lot of teams were interested – we did very well to get him because everybody says he has got a big future."^[13] He made his debut on 4 February at home to Fulham, playing on the left of a makeshift back four, kept a clean sheet, and supplied the cross for Lukas Jutkiewicz's winning goal in what was judged a man-of-the-match performance.^[14] He continued in the struggling side for the next six matches – all defeats^[15] – until a knee injury forced him out.^[16] He was restored to the starting eleven in early April for the visit to league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion, but the Birmingham Mail's correspondent thought his forward-thinking nature made his selection too risky while the team remained in relegation danger.^[17] He finished the season with ten appearances as the team secured their Championship survival on the last day of the season.^[18] Keita was a second-half substitute in the opening match of the 2017–18 season, but picked up a groin injury that kept him out for a few weeks. Meanwhile, new manager Harry Redknapp signed Arsenal youngster Cohen Bramall on loan, and Bramall went straight into the starting eleven.^[19]

Loan moves

Keita returned to Italy to join Serie A club Bologna on loan for the 2017–18 season.^[20] He arrived with an adductor muscle injury that he expected to keep him out for two weeks,^[21] but remained under treatment for some considerable time longer,^[22] and did not take a full part in first-team training until well into November.^[23] After two appearances for the club's Primavera side, he was included in the squad for the Serie A match at home to Cagliari on 3 December,^[24][25] but remained unused.^[7] Keita finally made his Bologna and Serie A debut on 18 April 2018, away to Sampdoria, as a second-half substitute for regular left wing-back Adam Masina; he became the first Malian to play for the club.^[26] Head coach Roberto Donadoni said that he put Keita on rather than Ibrahima Mbaye because of his greater drive.^[27] Keita made his only start in his third and last appearance for Bologna, in a 3–1 defeat against top-of-the-table Juventus. He struggled against the trickery of Juan Cuadrado, and was unable to cover properly for Juventus' second goal because he was pushed by its scorer, Sami Khedira.^[28]

After left-back Kristian Pedersen became Birmingham's first signing of the 2018 summer transfer window, Keita joined Eupen of the Belgian First Division A on a season-long loan.^[29] In the visit to Mouscron that "pitted the league's worst defence against the worst attack", he scored the only goal – his first at senior level^[7] – when Silas Gnaka's shot was parried to his feet to give his team their first points of the season in their fifth match.^[30] He missed several weeks with a muscle injury before returning to the side after the October international break.^[7][31] He finished the season with 24 appearances.^[7]

Return to Birmingham

Keita remained with Birmingham City for the 2019–20 season. He was brought into the matchday squad as cover on the left wing for an FA Cup match against Coventry City in February 2020, but was not used, and kept his place on the bench for a couple of league matches. Head coach Pep Clotet described him as "a player that is very much his own player, he has his own way of seeing the game that you either take it or you don't take it."^[32][7] He was released when his contract expired at the end of the season.^[33]

Gorica

After training with Serie B leaders Salernitana,^[34] Keita signed an 18-month contract with Croatian First League club Gorica on 5 February 2021.^[35]

International career

Keita was born in France of Malian descent. He represented Mali at under-20 level,^[4] and received his first call-up to the senior team in May 2016 for a friendly against Nigeria and an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan, but missed out through injury.^[36] Manager Alain Giresse selected him again for a World Cup qualifier against Gabon in November, but he remained an unused substitute.^[36][37]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 September 2022

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Virtus Entella	2014–15[7]	Serie B	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2015–16[7]	Serie B	31	0	1	0	—		—		32	0
	2016–17[7]	Serie B	14	0	2	0	—		—		16	0
	Total		45	0	3	0	—		—		48	0
Birmingham City	2016–17[15]	Championship	10	0	—		—		—		10	0
	2017–18[38]	Championship	1	0	—		0	0	—		1	0
	2019–20[39]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		11	0	0	0	0	0	—		11	0
Bologna (loan)	2017–18[7]	Serie A	3	0	—		—		—		3	0
Eupen (loan)	2018–19[7]	First Division A	24	2	0	0	—		—		24	2
Gorica	2020–21[7]	First League	9	0	1	0	—		—		10	0
	2021–22[7]	First League	28	0	3	0	—		—		31	0
	2022–23[7]	First League	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	Total		39	0	4	0	—		—		43	0
Career total			122	2	7	0	0	0	—		129	2

1. Includes Coppa Italia, FA Cup, Belgian Cup, Croatian Cup

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Birmingham City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 5. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
2. "Cheick Keita". Virtus Entella. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016.
3. Diakité, Salif (17 May 2016). "Cheick Kéita: Celui qui séduit par sa polyvalence" [Cheick Keita: the one with seductive versatility]. footmali.com (in French). Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
4. Fleurot, Grégoire (19 October 2016). "Qui est Cheick Keita, jeune footballeur et star d'"Afro trap Part. 3 (Champions League)" de MHD?" [Who is Cheick Keita, young footballer and star of MHD's "Afro trap Part. 3 (Champions League)"?]. L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 30 September 2021.
5. "MHD – AFRO TRAP Part.3 (Champions League)". YouTube. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
6. Pereira, Alexis (12 April 2016). "Cheick Keita, cet espoir lâché par Monaco qui séduit la Serie A et la L1" [Cheick Keita, the youngster let go by Monaco who's bewitching Serie A and Ligue 1]. Footmercato (in French). Retrieved 30 September 2021.
7. "C. Keita". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
8. "Virtus Entella vs. Cesena 2–1". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
9. "Bari 1908 vs. Virtus Entella 0–0". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
10. "Como vs. Virtus Entella 1–1". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
11. Malena, Attilio (30 August 2016). "Esclusiva TB – Virtus Entella, spunta una nuova pretendente per Keita" [TB exclsuive – Virtus Entella, announces a new suitor for Keita]. TuttoB.com (in Italian). Retrieved 30 September 2021.
12. "Cheick Keita: Birmingham City sign left-back from Serie B side Virtus Entella". BBC Sport. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
13. Dick, Brian (20 January 2017). "Birmingham City manager Gianfranco Zola delighted at Cheick Keita capture". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
14. Dicken, Alex (4 February 2017). "Cheick Keita analysis: How the Birmingham City debutant stole the show against Fulham". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
15. "Games played by Cheick Keita in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
16. Dick, Brian (10 March 2017). "Birmingham City manager Gianfranco Zola reveals his injury list ahead of trip to Cardiff City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
17. Dick, Brian (5 April 2017). "Birmingham City analysis: Why Che Adams needs more games – and Cheick Keita could do with less". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
18. "Bristol City 0–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
19. Ireland, Shane (29 August 2017). "Transfer rumour: Birmingham City full-back attracting interest". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
20. "Cheick Keita makes Italian loan move". Birmingham City F.C. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
21. "Bologna, Cheick Keita: 'Felice di tornare in Italia, sto recuperando dal problema muscolare'" [Bologna, Cheick Keita: 'Happy to be back in Italy, I'm recovering from the muscle problem']. CalcioMercato24.com (in Italian). 1 September 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
22. Minguzzi, Manuel (2 October 2017). "Bologna, dopo la sosta recuperano i lungodegenti" [Bologna, after the break the long-term injured are recovering]. Quotidiano.net (in Italian). Retrieved 3 December 2017.
23. "Bologna, Keita in gruppo" [Bologna, Keita in the group]. Sport Mediaset (in Italian). 21 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
24. "E la Primavera fa poker col Genoa" [Four of a kind for Primavera against Genoa] (in Italian). Bologna F.C. 1909. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
25. Tramo, Mario (2 December 2017). "Bologna, Donadoni: 'La vittoria contro la Sampdoria non deve essere un caso isolato. Classifica? Guardiamo una gara per volta'" [Bologna, Donadoni: 'The win against Sampdoria shouldn't be a one-off. League table? We'll take it one game at a time']. Novantesimo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 3 December 2017.
26. "Rossoblu debut for Cheick Keita". Bologna F.C. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
27. "Donadoni: "Peccato per il risultato. La frase di ieri? Non volevo mancare di rispetto"" [Donadoni: "Pity about the result. What I said yesterday? I didn't intend any lack of respect]. TuttoBolognaWeb (in Italian). 18 April 2018. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
28. Chiarini, Luca (5 May 2018). "Le pagelle del Bologna – Verdi c'è, Keita confuso. De Maio giù" [Marks for Bologna – Verdi top, Keita confused. De Maio bottom]. TuttoMercatoWeb (in Italian). Retrieved 16 May 2018.
    "Bologna: Donadoni contro l'arbitro" [Bologna: Donadoni versus the referee]. Sport Mediaset (in Italian). 5 May 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
29. "Cheick Keita: Claude Makelele signs Birmingham defender on loan for Belgian side Eupen". BBC Sport. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
30. Kayinga, Jacques-Emmanuel (25 August 2018). "Eupen signe sa première victoire et enfonce Mouscron dans la crise" [Eupen record their first win and push Mouscron into crisis]. RTBF.be (in French). Retrieved 30 September 2021.
31. "La KAS Eupen se rend à Waasland-Beveren" [KAS Eupen are off to Waasland-Beveren] (in French). AS Eupen. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
32. Dick, Brian (13 February 2020). "'Massive' – Struber, Keita, Kieftenbeld and much more in Birmingham City transcript". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
33. "Birmingham City: Jacques Maghoma and Jonathan Grounds to leave club". BBC Sport. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
34. Dick, Brian (15 December 2020). "Free agent set for next club move after leaving Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
35. "Cheick Keita novi igrač Gorice: 'Pratio sam i dosad HNL, znam gdje sam došao'" (in Croatian). HNK Gorica. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
36. Diakité, Salif (3 November 2016). "Cheick Kéita: Une menace pour Youssouf? Giresse s'explique!" [Cheick Keita: A threat to Youssouf? Giresse explains himself!]. footmali.com (in French). Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
37. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Africa matches Mali 0–0 Gabon". FIFA. 12 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
38. "Games played by Cheick Keita in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
39. "Games played by Cheick Keita in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2020.