Pape Gueye at FIFA World Cup 2026
Villarreal
Primary
Central midfielder
Others
Defensive midfielder, box-to-box midfielder
Pape Gueye is a midfielder for Villarreal and one of Senegal's key central options heading into FIFA World Cup 2026. His profile combines physical power, left-footed progression, and the ability to cover ground across different midfield roles.
That blend has made him increasingly important for Senegal because Group I will demand both control and intensity. He arrives in the World Cup cycle with strong club form and major AFCON storyline weight behind him.
Quick Answer
Pape Alassane Gueye is a 27-year-old Senegal central midfielder for Villarreal.
He is primarily used as a central midfielder, with cover across defensive midfielder, box-to-box midfielder.
His current club contract runs through June 2028.
His reported weekly salary is EUR 36,154 (Capology est.), and his estimated net worth is Financial analysis pending.
Pape Gueye at World Cup 2026
Senegal enter Group I with France, Norway, and Iraq, and Gueye gives the squad a midfield option who can influence both phases. He can help protect the defence, carry the ball out, and also arrive higher when the game opens up.
That makes him one of the more complete midfield profiles in the squad. In tournament football, coaches value players who can solve more than one tactical problem at once.
Pape Gueye Early Life and Background
Gueye was born in Montreuil, France, and came through the Le Havre academy after starting with local youth football in the Paris region. He represented France in youth international football before later committing to Senegal at senior level.
His route reflects a player shaped by strong academy coaching before breaking into a more physical senior game. That technical base still shows in how comfortably he receives and carries the ball under pressure.
Personal Info and Profile
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Pape Alassane Gueye |
| Date of birth | 24 January 1999 |
| Birthplace | Montreuil, France |
| Age | 27 |
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 65 kg |
| Nationality | Senegal |
| Second citizenship | France |
| Position | Central midfielder |
| Other positions | Defensive midfielder, box-to-box midfielder |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Current club | Villarreal |
| Shirt number | 18 |
| Contract end | June 2028 |
| Transfer value | EUR 20.0M |
| Weekly salary | EUR 36,154 (Capology est.) |
| Estimated net worth | Financial analysis pending |
Pape Gueye Club Career
Gueye's club career has moved from French development football into major roles in France and Spain. The defining pattern is steady growth rather than one fast explosion.
Le Havre and Marseille (2017–2024)
Le Havre gave Gueye his first senior platform, and Marseille then signed him in 2020 after a disputed Watford transfer never materialised. He went on to become a meaningful part of Marseille's midfield rotation before also spending time on loan with Sevilla.
Villarreal — 2024-26
Villarreal signed Gueye in 2024 on a free transfer and tied him down until June 2028. He has since become an important midfield option in La Liga and European competition, combining ball-winning with forward carrying.
His recent Villarreal form has also pushed his market value upward. By 2025-26 he was contributing goals and assists as well as the physical midfield work that already defined his game.
Career Stats Table
| Club | Season | Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Havre B | 2017-20 | All competitions | 65 | 3 |
| Le Havre | 2017-20 | All competitions | 52 | 0 |
| Marseille | 2020-24 | All competitions | 115 | 4 |
| Sevilla | 2023-24 | Loan / all competitions | 18 | 0 |
| Villarreal | 2024-26 | All competitions | 57 | 6 |
| Career Total | All competitions | 307 | 13 |
The career table reflects a midfielder whose value has grown through minutes, mobility, and versatility rather than flashy output alone. His rise in Spain has given his profile more weight heading into the World Cup cycle.
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | xG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Villarreal | All competitions | 22 | 2 | 1 | Subject to confirmation |
| 2024-25 | Villarreal | All competitions | 35 | 4 | 2 | Subject to confirmation |
| 2023-24 | Marseille / Sevilla | All competitions | 32 | 1 | Subject to confirmation | Subject to confirmation |
Pape Gueye International Career
Gueye switched from France's youth system to Senegal's senior team and has become one of the more important midfield names in the group.
Youth Teams and Senior National Team
He represented France at youth level before choosing Senegal for senior football in 2021. Since then he has reached 40 senior caps and 5 goals.
Gueye was part of Senegal's AFCON-winning squads in 2021 and 2025, and his goal in the 2025 final gave him a particularly strong place in recent tournament memory. That mix of club form and international impact makes him one of the more important midfielders in the current pool.
| National Team | Year | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| France U18 | 2017 | 2 | 0 |
| France U19 | 2017 | 3 | 0 |
| France U20 | 2018 | 4 | 0 |
| Senegal | 2021– | 40 | 5 |
Honours and Trophies
Pape Gueye Salary, Transfer Value and Net Worth
Capology and FBref wage data place Gueye at about EUR 36,154 per week, which equals roughly EUR 1.88M per year. That salary level fits an established La Liga midfielder who joined Villarreal on a free transfer but quickly became important.
Transfermarkt places his current value around EUR 20.0M, while recent public peaks have reached EUR 25.0M. The last completed move in his career was Villarreal signing him from Marseille on a free in 2024.
An estimated net worth figure is not consistently disclosed through verified public reporting. Subject to confirmation.
All salary and net worth figures are estimates based on publicly available data and should not be treated as confirmed financial reporting.
| Metric | Value | Source / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly salary | EUR 36,154 | Capology / FBref wage data |
| Annual salary | EUR 1.88M | Calculated |
| Current transfer value | EUR 20.0M | Transfermarkt market estimate |
| Peak transfer value | EUR 25.0M | 2025 |
| Last transfer fee | Free transfer | Marseille to Villarreal |
| Contract end | June 2028 | Villarreal / Capology listing |
| Estimated net worth | Subject to confirmation | — |
