# Jules Koundé

Jules Olivier Koundé (French pronunciation:; born 12 November 1998) is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back for La Liga club Barcelona and the France national team.
Originally a center-back in his Bordeaux days, Koundé was shifted to a right-back during his Barcelona days. He is considered one of the best right-backs in the world, known for being a very fast defender, quick to intercept, and his attacking and defensive workrates.

## Early life

Jules Olivier Koundé was born on 12 November 1998 in Paris and grew up in Landiras, Gironde. His father is Beninese and Koundé holds citizenship of both Benin and France. His uncle Charles Tokplé is a former footballer who played for the Togo national team.
Koundé grew up with his mother. He has stated that during his youth, he struggled with his temper after poor performances from his local team, expressing "I'd be in a foul mood all weekend: atrocious behaviour. I got into such a rage that I ended up kicking my poor mum."

## Club career
### Bordeaux

Koundé started in his first team debut for Bordeaux in the 2–1 Coupe de France away loss to Granville in the round of 64 on 7 January 2018, playing the full 90 minutes of normal time and the full 30 minutes of extra time. He made his Ligue 1 debut for Bordeaux in a 1–0 away win over Troyes on 13 January 2018. On 10 February 2018, Koundé scored the opening goal of a 3–2 Ligue 1 home win over Amiens; it was his first career Ligue 1 goal and his first competitive goal for Bordeaux's first team.

### Sevilla

On 3 July 2019, he signed for Spanish club Sevilla. The transfer fee paid to Bordeaux was reported as €25 million. In his first season at Sevilla, he helped the club win the UEFA Europa League for a record sixth time and was named in the competition's team of the season.

### Barcelona

On 29 July 2022, Barcelona announced an agreement with Sevilla for the transfer of Koundé. Koundé missed Barcelona's first match of the La Liga season against Rayo Vallecano as the club could not register him as they were over the league's salary cap limit. He also missed Barcelona's second league match against Real Sociedad on 21 August for the same reason. Koundé was registered with La Liga on 26 August and made his official debut for the club two days later in a 4–0 win over Real Valladolid at the Camp Nou.
On 16 January 2023, Barcelona won the 2023 Supercopa de España final, following a 3–1 victory over rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico, winning his first title with the club. On 14 May 2023, Koundé scored his first goal for Barcelona in a 4-2 win against Espanyol away at RCDE Stadium which automactically condemned them as LaLiga champions
On 3rd of December 2023, Koundé scored his second goal in a 2-1 win against Osasuna away at El Sadar Stadium. On 11th of December, Koundé made an assist to Robert Lewandowski in a 2-1 win against Deportivo Alavés at home. In the midway of the season, a once Barcelona player now maanger, Xavi Hernandez, had shifted Koundé from a center-back to right-back. Although Koundé opposed Xavi's idea, he decided to adapt his new position. Koundé made an assist to Raphinha a 4-0 win against Getafe CF on the 24th of Febraury.

## International career

Koundé was a member of France's squad for the group stage of the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, starting in central defence in all three matches and captaining the team in the 2–0 win against Russia.
On 18 May 2021, Koundé was selected by Didier Deschamps as part of the 26 players that formed the France national team for UEFA Euro 2020. He made his debut on 2 June 2021 in a pre-tournament friendly against Wales, coming on as a substitute for Benjamin Pavard at half-time. He made one appearance at Euro 2020, playing the full match against Portugal in Group F.
On 10 October 2021, Koundé started and played the whole match as France defeated Spain 2–1 in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final.
Koundé was a member of France's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup where he started five of the team's seven matches at right back as they finished as runners-up to Argentina.
In May 2024, Koundé was named in France's squad for UEFA Euro 2024. At the tournament, he started all six matches for France at right-back, and was named man of the match in their 1–0 victory over Belgium in the round of 16..

## Personal life

Koundé has French and Beninese nationality.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 16 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Bordeaux II | 2015–16 | CFA | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Bordeaux II | 2016–17 | CFA 2 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Bordeaux II | 2017–18 | National 3 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Bordeaux II | Total | Total | 29 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 1 |
| Bordeaux | 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 2 |
| Bordeaux | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 51 | 2 |
| Bordeaux | Total | Total | 55 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 70 | 4 |
| Sevilla | 2019–20 | La Liga | 29 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 2 |
| Sevilla | 2020–21 | La Liga | 34 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 4 |
| Sevilla | 2021–22 | La Liga | 32 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 3 |
| Sevilla | Total | Total | 95 | 5 | 12 | 3 | — | — | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 133 | 9 |
| Barcelona | 2022–23 | La Liga | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| Barcelona | 2023–24 | La Liga | 35 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 2 |
| Barcelona | 2024–25 | La Liga | 27 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 3 |
| Barcelona | Total | Total | 91 | 4 | 11 | 2 | — | — | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 131 | 6 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 271 | 12 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 363 | 20 |
* ↑ Includes Coupe de France, Copa del Rey
* ↑ Includes Coupe de la Ligue
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearance in UEFA Super Cup
* ↑ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 3 Appearances in Supercopa de España

### International

    As of match played 17 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| France | 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| France | 2022 | 11 | 0 |
| France | 2023 | 6 | 0 |
| France | 2024 | 16 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 40 | 0 |

## Honours

Sevilla
* UEFA Europa League: 2019–20
Barcelona
* La Liga: 2022–23
* Supercopa de España: 2023, 2025
France
* UEFA Nations League: 2020–21
* FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2022
Individual
* UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2019–20
* La Liga Team of the Season: 2021–22, 2022–23