PSG centre back Presnel Kimpembe leaves PSG after 20 years at the club

Presnel Kimpembe has left Paris Saint Germain after twenty years at the club, joining Qatar Sports Club. The Parisians issued a statement on social media on Sunday, stating that the PSG and France stalwart would not be continuing with the team, and thanking him for his services.

Presnel Kimpembe departs PSG after 20 years

The French defender had first signed for the Parisian giants as a ten year old in 2005, and had worked his way up through the ranks - eventually becoming a regular starter in the Parisian defense, often featuring as part of a partnership at the back with either Marquinhos or Thiago Silva. He made 241 appearances across all competitions for PSG, scoring 3 goals over the span of his 11 year senior career.

In a statement issued on the club's Twitter page, the defender announced that he was leaving, stating that he was extremely proud to have played under the club's colours for so many years, and wishing the club more success in the future. He will join former teammates Julian Draxler and Marco Verratti in the Qatar Stars League.

Kimpembe's success at the club is perhaps the best example of the PSG academy producing top tier talents, with his initial breakthrough arguably coming in 2017, when his excellent performance in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 against Barcelona saw him touted as being one of the best young defenders in Europe. He established himself as a regular in the Parisian side the following season, making 38 appearances in all competitions, and was part of the France squad that lifted the world cup in the following summer, although he only made one appearance in the tournament.

Kimpembe's most important goal for the club came the following season, as he scored a fine volley at Old Trafford vs Manchester United in the Champions League first knockout round, although PSG were later eliminated after a dismal performance in the return match. Kimpembe's reputation as a mobile and passionate centre half was enhanced in December 2020, when a brilliant recovery tackle on Lille's Burak Yildiz was hailed by many, including legendary defenders such as Rio Ferdinand, as an excellent piece of defending.

However, the last few years of Kimpembe's time in Paris have been marred by injury, with the defender missing all but five games across the last two and a half seasons after an achilles tendon pull suffered in February 2023, and although PSG finally won the much coveted Champions League in 2025, he only played a minuscule role in this success, with one substitute appearance to his name.

Overall, Kimpembe will definitely go down as a fan favourite in Paris, especially due to his academy origins and his passionate love of the club - the two parties have gone different directions in the most amicable of ways. Kimpembe will hope for more game time in the Middle East, as he will have ambitions of returning to the France squad in view of the World Cup next summer.

As for PSG, the addition of Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth this summer had meant that Kimpembe was deemed surplus to requirements, especially given that after his long absense, an immediate return to full sharpness is far from being a given.

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