Samuel Umtiti: A Brief Biography
Samuel Yves Umtiti, known professionally as Samuel Umtiti, is a renowned French footballer recognized for his role as a center-back. Currently, he plays for Lecce, a Serie A club, on loan from Barcelona, a La Liga club. He joined the France national team and FC Barcelona in 2016 after spending seven successful years with Lyon. Notably, Umtiti was part of the victorious French squad that won the 2018 World Cup. His football journey began with Menival in his early youth years and continued with training in Lyon's youth program for the next decade. In 2013, he contributed to the France U20 team's triumph in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Umtiti made his professional debut for Lyon in a Coupe de France match against Lyon-Duchere in January 2012, followed by his first Ligue 1 start against Montpellier a few days later, resulting in a 1-0 away loss for his team. In July 2016, he marked his debut for the French National Team during the UEFA Euro quarterfinal clash against Iceland, delivering an impressive performance with a flawless completion of all 77 passes. On August 25, 2022, Barcelona announced Umtiti's loan move to Lecce, without a purchase option, until June 30, 2023. Outside of football, Umtiti remains active on social media, boasting a substantial following with 6.1 million Instagram followers and 1.5 million Twitter followers.
Early Life
Samuel Umtiti, originally from Yaounde, Cameroon, was born on November 14, 1993, with the real name of Samuel Yves Umtiti. He later, he with his family when he was two years old to Villeurbanne, France. He holds French nationality and identifies as French of black ethnicity. He follows the Christian faith and is classified as white in terms of race. Currently 29 years old, Umtiti celebrates his birthday on November 14 and falls under the zodiac sign of Scorpio. Umtiti was born to his mother Annie Ngo Um. He had a younger brother named Yannick Umtiti. Unfortunately, there is no information disclosed about his father.
In terms of his education, Samuel received his formal soccer training by enrolling in the youth academy of Olympique Lyon.
Club Career
Lyon
- Samuel Umtiti kicks off his professional football career with Lyon, making his first appearance for the squad on August 16, 2011, although he remained an unused substitute in their 3-1 victory over Rubin Kazan in the Champions League play-off round. His official debut came on January 8, 2012, where he played the entire match and contributed to Lyon's 3-1 triumph over local rivals Lyon-Duchere in the Coupe de France.
- Just six days later, he made his Ligue 1 debut, playing the full game in a 1-0 away defeat against Montpellier. Throughout his debut season, Umtiti amassed a total of 18 appearances across various competitions. As the 2012-2013 season unfolded, Umtiti established himself as a regular member of the Lyon first team.
- He scored his first career goal on January 12, 2013, in a 2-1 away victory against Troyes. By the end of the season, he had made 32 appearances in all competitions and netted two goals.
Barcelona
- Samuel completed his transfer to Barcelona from the La Liga side for a fee of €25 million on June 30, 2016. He made his Barcelona debut on August 17 in the second leg of the 2016 Supercopa de Espana, helping his team secure a 3-0 victory over Sevilla and clinch the trophy. However, Umtiti suffered a knee injury during training in September 2016, causing him to miss an important La Liga match against Atletico Madrid.
- On March 4, 2017, he scored his first goal for Barcelona in a 5-0 win against Celta de Vigo at the Camp Nou. Umtiti played a crucial role in the historic comeback of Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2016-2017 Champions League round of 16, contributing to a 6-1 victory after being 4-0 down in the first leg. He finished his first season in Spain by winning the Copa del Rey and establishing himself as a key player in the central defense alongside Gerard Pique.
- In his second season, Umtiti continued to impress under new manager Ernesto Valverde, but he suffered a right hamstring injury on December 2, which ruled him out for eight weeks. He scored a decisive goal against Valencia CF on April 14 and helped Barcelona secure a 2-1 victory. Umtiti also started in the 2018 Copa del Rey Final, which Barcelona won 5-0 against Sevilla.
- He claimed his fifth winners' medal as a substitute in the 2018 Supercopa de Espana. Umtiti's decision to opt for conservative treatment instead of surgery for a knee injury allowed him to participate in the 2018 World Cup, where he won the tournament with the French national team. However, the following seasons saw Umtiti struggle with fitness issues and reduced playing time for Barcelona, as injuries hampered his contributions to the team.
Loan to Lecce
- Barcelona announced on August 25, 2022, that they had come to an agreement with newly-promoted Serie A team Lecce for the loan of Umtiti until June 30, 2023, without an option to purchase. Umtiti made his debut for Lecce on October 9, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 league defeat against Roma. However, on January 4, 2023, during a home league match against Lazio, Umtiti and his teammate Lameck Banda were subjected to racial abuse by a group of away supporters.
- Throughout the game, the Lazio fans continued their racist chants, causing the referee, Livio Martinelli, to interrupt the match for a few minutes in the second half. Despite the distressing situation, Umtiti performed admirably on the field and was praised for his efforts. The match concluded with a 2-1 victory for Lecce.
- Umtiti, visibly emotional after the final whistle, received support from Lecce supporters who attempted to drown out the abuse with chants of praise for the Frenchman. The club's president, Saverio Sticchi Damiani, also stood up for Umtiti and Banda after the game. Lazio issued an official apology for the behavior of their fans through a statement on social media, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed his support for Umtiti and Banda on his Instagram profile. Throughout the season, Umtiti made 24 starts and played a crucial role in defense as Lecce secured their Serie A safety with a 1-0 victory over Monza on May 28.
International career
- Samuel Umtiti had a notable career as a France youth international, representing the country from the under-17 to under-21 levels. He played a vital role in France's historic victory in the U-20 World Cup in 2013, although he missed the final against Uruguay due to a red card received in the semi-final against Ghana. Despite his early success, Umtiti had the opportunity to represent Cameroon, as he was born there and spent his first two years in the country. However, attempts by the Cameroonian Football Federation and former international player Roger Milla to persuade him were unsuccessful.
- At the senior level, Umtiti, who had not yet earned a cap, was selected by France national team manager Didier Deschamps to join the squad for the 2016 European Championship following an injury to Jeremy Mathieu. He made his senior debut on July 3, playing the entire quarter-final match against Iceland, where he replaced the suspended Adil Rami. Umtiti made history by becoming the first outfield player since Gabriel De Michèle in 1966 to win his first cap for France in the finals of a major tournament.
- He impressed with a flawless performance, completing all 77 of his passes in the match, which France won 5-2. His performance in the semi-final against Germany received rave reviews, generating excitement about his potential both at Barcelona, his newly signed club at the time, and as a player for the future.
- On June 13, 2017, he scored his first goal for France, equalizing against England in a friendly match that ended in a 3-2 victory for Les Bleus. He was later named in the 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Umtiti made a significant impact in the semi-final against Belgium, scoring the only goal of the match with a header from a corner. In the final against Croatia, he was named as a starter, contributing to France's 4-2 victory and their triumph in the tournament.
Awards and Achievements
Lyon
- Coupe de France: 2011-2012
- Trophee des Champions: 2012
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2017-2018, 2018-2019
- Copa del Rey: 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2020-2021
- Supercopa de Espana: 2016, 2018
France U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2013
France
- FIFA World Cup: 2018
Individual
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2012
- UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2016
- FIFA FIFPro World XI 2nd team: 2018
- FIFA FIFPro World XI 5th team: 2017
- ESM Team of the Year: 2017-2018,
Orders
- Knight of the Legion of Honour: 2018
Transfer News
- Barcelona on 30th June 2023 at the end of the loan
- Lecce at loan
- Barcelona on 12th July 2016 at 25m euros
- Olympique Lyonnais on 1st January 2012
Samuel Umtiti Relationship: Wife and Girlfriend
Samuel Umtiti is currently unmarried, and he prefers to keep his personal life and relationships private, maintaining a distance from the media. Given his focus on his career, it is likely that he doesn't have much time for romantic relationships. There have been rumors about his relationship with Alexandra Dulauroy, a Real Estate agent, but it is uncertain if they were dating. As of now, it can be assumed that he is leading a single life. In terms of his sexual orientation, Samuel Umtiti identifies as straight.
Samuel Umtiti's net worth, salary & source of income
Samuel Umtiti has already established a strong reputation for himself and his ambition drives him to work even harder to achieve his goals. As of 2023, he has a net worth of $39 million and earns an annual salary of $16,008,000. Umtiti is the proud owner of several luxurious cars, including a Maserati valued at €126,000, as well as an Audi A6 and Audi Q7, each worth approximately $100,000. He has also secured a personal endorsement deal with Nike, a renowned sportswear brand. Umtiti proudly wears their cleats during his professional matches and utilizes his social media presence to promote their products. Currently, his market value is estimated at €4.00m, with his highest market value reaching €70.00m on July 16, 2018. It is important to note that his primary source of income is his successful football career.
Samuel Umtiti's height, weight & size
Samuel Umtiti has undoubtedly reached impressive heights in his career. Standing at 5 ft 11.25 in or 181 cm tall and weighing 79 kg or 174 lbs, he possesses an athletic body build. His distinctive features include an imposing physical presence, complemented by his black hair and dark brown eyes. Additionally, Umtiti often sports a beard, which adds to his unique appearance.
