Stories and facts
Salis Abdul Samed, born on March 26, 2000, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lens and the Ghana national team.
Abdul Samed began his football journey at the JMG Academy in Accra, Ghana. Following the closure of the Accra academy, he continued his development at the JMG Academy in Djékanou, Ivory Coast. His talent and dedication caught the attention of Clermont, and on July 24, 2019, he joined the French club on a two-year loan deal from the academy.
Abdul Samed made his debut for Clermont on August 27, 2019, in a Coupe de la Ligue match against Lens, which ended in a 2–2 draw, with Clermont losing 5–4 on penalties.
His time at Clermont proved fruitful as he was part of the squad that achieved promotion to Ligue 1 after finishing second in the 2019–20 Ligue 2 season. Impressed by his performances, Clermont signed Abdul Samed on a permanent basis on July 12, 2021, with the player committing to a four-year contract.
On June 24, 2022, Abdul Samed took the next step in his career by signing for Lens in a transfer reportedly worth €5 million. He agreed to a five-year contract with the club and made an immediate impact, playing the full 90 minutes in Lens' 3–2 victory over Stade Brestois 29 on August 7, 2022, in his debut match.
Just a few weeks later, on August 31, 2022, he scored his first goal for Lens in a match against Lorient. Throughout the season, he was a key figure in the squad, making 33 Ligue 1 appearances and starting 32 of those games.
Abdul Samed also played a crucial role in Lens' Coupe de France campaign, where the team reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by the defending champions, FC Nantes.
Abdul Samed formed a formidable midfield partnership with Lens captain Seko Fofana, which was instrumental in Lens securing second place in Ligue 1, just one point behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.
This impressive collective performance earned Lens a spot in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years, marking only the third time in the club's history that they have qualified for the prestigious tournament.
At the end of the season, Abdul Samed's exceptional performances did not go unnoticed; he was named the best central midfielder by French sports news outlet Get French Football News and was included in their Team of the Season.
He was also nominated for the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, though the award ultimately went to Chancel Mbemba.
In recognition of his contributions and potential, Lens extended Abdul Samed's contract on June 8, 2023, for an additional year, keeping him at the club until 2028.
On the international stage, Abdul Samed received his first call-up to the Ghana national team in November 2022, just before the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He made his debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Switzerland, playing the full 90 minutes in a match that saw Ghana win 2–0.
Subsequently, Abdul Samed represented Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, further establishing himself as a key player for his national team.
Explore the life of Salis Abdul Samed below.
