# Pape Cheikh Diop

Pape Cheikh Diop Gueye (born 8 August 1997) is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays for Al Arabi as a midfielder. A youth international for Spain, he plays for the Senegal national team.

## Club career
### Youth

Diop moved to Spain at age 14 in 2011 to join Club Internacional de la Amistad, an academy for foreign players in Palencia. After a spell at Montañeros CF in A Coruña, he joined Celta de Vigo's youth setup in 2013.

### Celta

Diop made his senior debut with the reserves on 23 August 2014, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 Segunda División B away win against CD Lealtad. He scored his first goal eight days later, netting the last in a 5–0 home routing of UP Langreo.
On 11 August 2015, Diop signed a new five-year deal with the club, running until 2020. He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 12 December of that year, replacing Nolito in the dying minutes of a 1–0 home success over RCD Espanyol.
Diop scored his first goal in the main category on 27 November 2016, netting the last in a 3–1 home win against Granada CF. The following 31 January, he extended his contract until 2021 and was definitely promoted to the main squad, being assigned the number 4 jersey.

### Lyon

On 29 August 2017, Lyon announced the signing of Diop on a five-year deal. The transfer fee paid to Celta was reported as €10 million with €4 million of possible bonuses. On 14 August 2019, after featuring sparingly, he returned to his former side Celta on loan for the 2019–20 campaign.

#### Loan to Dijon

On 6 August 2020, Diop signed for Ligue 1 club Dijon on loan for one season. The deal included an option to buy of €5 million plus an additional €1.5 million in bonuses, and a 15% sell-on fee clause. Diop made his debut for Dijon in a 1–0 loss to Angers on 22 August 2020.

### Later career

On 29 June 2022, Diop signed a two-year contract with Super League Greece club Aris.
Free agent Diop joined La Liga side Elche on 14 February 2023 after a trial. He was signed to a contract on until the end of the season.
On 6 March 2024, Diop joined Slovak First Football League club DAC Dunajská Streda on a contract until the end of the season with an option to extend.

## International career

Born in Senegal and raised in Spain from age 14, Diop was a youth international for Spain. In September 2018, Diop declared his international allegiance to Spain. He switched, and first represented the Senegal national team in a friendly 3–1 loss to Morocco on 9 October 2020.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 7 July 2022
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Celta | 2015–16 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Celta | 2016–17 | La Liga | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 |
| Celta | Total | Total | 22 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 |
| Lyon | 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Lyon | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| Lyon | 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Lyon | Total | Total | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 |
| Celta (loan) | 2019–20 | La Liga | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Dijon (loan) | 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 72 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 1 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

## Honours

Spain U19
* UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2015