Joane Gadou: Who is Borussia Dortmund's new teenage centre-back?
Borussia Dortmund have bolstered their defensive ranks with the signing of highly promising centre-back Joane Gadou from Red Bull Salzburg. Find out more about the 19-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain…
Data correct as of 12 May 2026
Age: 19 (born 17 January 2007)
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Central defender
Country: France
Key stats
Born on the outskirts of Paris, Gadou started out at French lower-league outfit ES Nangis before enrolling in a grassroots programme at his middle school as an 11-year-old. He was initially deployed as a midfielder but soon settled into a central defensive role – thanks in part to his tall stature.
The switch enabled Gadou to hone the leadership skills that convinced Paris Saint-Germain to sign the young defender, who was still only 13 at the time, in 2020. He was handed his debut for the U19s in late 2022 but was soon representing the Parisian club on the European stage.
Impressive displays in PSG’s 2022/23 and 2023/24 UEFA Youth League campaigns caught the eye of first-team boss Luis Enrique, who named Gadou in his squad for a first-round Coupe de France tie with US Revel in January 2024.
The teenager also made the bench for a Ligue 1 clash with Monaco on 1 March, not to mention the UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Sociedad four days later, but he never made a first-team appearance for Enrique’s side before joining Salzburg in September 2024.
He was handed his Austrian Bundesliga debut on Matchday 8 of the 2024/25 campaign, coming on as a late substitute in a 2-0 victory over Austria Vienna. Despite having to wait another month for his first start – in a 3-0 Austrian Cup victory over WSG Tirol – Gadou quickly settled, playing every minute of Salzburg’s last 14 Bundesliga games as they finished runners-up to Sturm Graz.
The teenager also went the distance in all three of RB’s three group games at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Gadou has continued to blossom at the heart of Salzburg’s defence in 2025/26, making 33 appearances across the Bundesliga, Austrian Cup, Europa League and Champions League play-offs.
The 1.95m defender has also gained major tournament experience at international level, having captained France at the European U17 Championships in 2024. He has also won eight caps for Les Bleus’ U19 side.
Plays a bit like: Dayot Upamecano
Gadou’s early promise at the PSG academy led to comparisons with fellow graduates El Chadaille Bitshiabu, who joined RB Leipzig in 2023, and Tanguy Nianzou, who spent two years with Bayern Munich between 2020 and 2022 before moving to Sevilla.
The man himself, though, models his game on current Bayern stalwart and former Salzburg star Upamecano. “He is a France international now, whose playing style I identify with,” Gadou said at his unveiling as a Salzburg player in 2024.
Strong in the tackle, dominant in the air and incredibly quick, Gadou has all the attributes to follow a similar trajectory to Upamecano in the coming years.
Did you know?
Gadou faced Dortmund three times in the UEFA Youth League in 2023 – but lost on each occasion.
Part of the side beaten 6-5 on penalties by Borussia in the 2022/23 last 16, Gadou played the whole 90 minutes of both PSG’s group games against Die Schwarzgelben the following season, losing 1-0 at home and 2-0 away.
What they’re saying
“He was very good at breaking lines. That was one of his greatest strengths. Very strong in winning back possession, very determined. He’s a very driven kid. He was never fazed by anything, never overwhelmed by emotions.” – Xavier Marguet, Gadou’s former youth coach
“In pressing forward in one-on-one situations, he is really very strong. He is very fast. He has a willingness to learn and put into practice what he is told.” – Yohan Cabaye, head of PSG’s youth academy
“Joane is a real top talent who had a lot of options for the next step in his career. We’re definitely going to have a lot of joy with him.” – Bernhard Seonbuchner, former Salzburg sporting director in September 2024
