# Saidou Khan

Saidou Khan (born 5 December 1995) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Tranmere Rovers, on loan from EFL League Two club Swindon Town and the Gambia national team..

## Early and personal life

Khan grew up in Sanchaba in The Gambia; his father worked as a soldier on a peacekeeping mission in Liberia, and later moved to London to work as a security guard. Khan grew up "obsessed" with football; his favourite player was AC Milan's Kaká, and he is nicknamed 'Kaka' in The Gambia. Khan's father died of cancer when Khan was 12 years old. Khan moved to England in 2010, two years after his father's death.

## Club career

Khan spent his early career in English non-league football with Tooting & Mitcham United, Dulwich Hamlet, Carshalton Athletic, Chipstead and Kingstonian. During this time Khan studied at the University of East London and worked part-time at a Lidl supermarket. He later played in the National League South with Maidstone United, and the National League with Dagenham & Redbridge. He also has two unsuccessful trials with Football League club Milton Keynes Dons; he nearly quit football after his second rejection.
He signed for National League club Chesterfield in July 2021, on a two-year contract. By November 2021 he was the club's joint-top scorer that season. The club rejected a transfer bid for Khan in January 2022. He signed for Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee in July 2022.
He moved on loan to Tranmere Rovers in August 2024.

## International career

In May 2023, Khan received his first call-up to the Gambia national side ahead of their 2023 AFCON qualifier against South Sudan. He debuted with the Gambia in a 1–1 tie 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification with Madagascar on 11 October 2024.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 1 February 2025.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Tooting & Mitcham United | 2014–15 | Isthmian League Division One South | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Dulwich Hamlet | 2015–16 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Carshalton Athletic (loan) | 2015–16 | Isthmian League Division One South | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chipstead (loan) | 2015–16 | Isthmian League Division One South | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kingstonian | 2016–17 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Chipstead | 2016–17 | Isthmian League Division One South | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chipstead | 2017–18 | Isthmian League South Division | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Chipstead | 2018–19 | Isthmian League South Central Division | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Chipstead | Total | Total | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Tooting & Mitcham United | 2018–19 | Isthmian League South Central Division | 25 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Maidstone United | 2019–20 | National League South | 28 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| Maidstone United | 2020–21 | National League South | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Maidstone United | Total | Total | 32 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 42 | 3 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 2020–21 | National League | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Chesterfield | 2021–22 | National League | 37 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 42 | 7 |
| Swindon Town | 2022–23 | League Two | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Swindon Town | 2023–24 | League Two | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| Swindon Town | 2024–25 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swindon Town | Total | Total | 66 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70 | 2 |
| Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 2024–25 | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 233 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 261 | 14 |
* 1 2 Appearance in the Alan Turvey Trophy
* 1 2 3 Appearances in the FA Trophy
* ↑ Two appearances in the FA Trophy, one in the Alan Turvey Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the National League play-offs
* ↑ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.