# Aurélien Tchouaméni
**Aurélien Tchouaméni** (born 2000 in Rouen, France) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for [Real Madrid CF](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-madrid-cf) and the France national team. He joined Real Madrid from AS Monaco in July 2022 for a reported €80 million and was a finalist at the 2022 World Cup with France.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) • [2](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-analysis-stats-real-madrid)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2000, Rouen (Seine-Maritime), France; preferred foot right[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) |
| Position | Midfielder (defensive midfield), also capable of playing center-back[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) • [3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-defensive-midfielders-in-the-world) |
| Clubs | SJ d'Artigues 2006–2011; Girondins de Bordeaux 2011–2020; AS Monaco 02/2020–06/2022; Real Madrid 07/2022–[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) |
| Transfer to Real Madrid | €80 million, summer 2022[2](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-analysis-stats-real-madrid) |
| France record | 50 caps, 3 goals, 44 starts, 4,145 minutes; debut 1 September 2021 against Bosnia-Herzegovina[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) |
| Major honors | UEFA Champions League 2024, La Liga 2024, Copa del Rey 2023, FIFA Club World Cup 2022, UEFA Super Cup 2022 and 2024, UEFA Nations League 2021[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) |
| Individual award | Trophée UNFP for best young player in Ligue 1, 2021[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) |
## Early life and youth career
Tchouaméni was born in Rouen and spent most of his early life in Bordeaux. He joined the [Girondins](https://www.edgepedia.org/girondins) de Bordeaux academy at age 11 from the amateur youth side SJ d'Artigues, a club he had been with from 2006 to 2011.[4](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/assets/2021-MAG-MASTERS-compressed-2.pdf) • [1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) He progressed through Bordeaux's youth ranks, winning the Championnat National U19 with the club in 2017, and represented France from U16 level upward, including 14 matches for the U17 side.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html)
## Monaco
In January 2020 Tchouaméni moved to AS Monaco, whose offer just short of the €20 million mark was accepted after he had established himself as a first-team regular in the first half of the season with Bordeaux.[4](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/assets/2021-MAG-MASTERS-compressed-2.pdf) After a difficult first half-season at the club, he solidified his place as a starter and helped [Niko Kovač](https://www.edgepedia.org/niko-kovac)'s team finish third in [Ligue 1](https://www.edgepedia.org/ligue-1) and reach the French Cup final in 2021.[4](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/assets/2021-MAG-MASTERS-compressed-2.pdf) • [5](https://www.footylogos.com/careers/aurelien-tchouameni)
His 2021/22 season made him one of the most sought-after young midfielders in Europe. He won the Trophée UNFP as Ligue 1's best young player for 2021, becoming the sixth Monaco player to receive the accolade after [Thierry Henry](https://www.edgepedia.org/thierry-henry) (1997), [David Trezeguet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-trezeguet) (1998), Philippe Christanval (2000), [Patrice Evra](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrice-evra) (2004), and Kylian Mbappé (2017).[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) • [6](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-impressing-at-monaco) Monaco finished on the Ligue 1 podium in both of his full seasons, and he left in June 2022 after two and a half years with the club.[7](https://www.asmonaco.com/fr/news/aurelien-tchouameni-a-las-monaco-a-toute-allure)
## Real Madrid
Real Madrid signed Tchouaméni in one of the biggest moves of the summer 2022 window, paying €80 million to bring fresh blood into a midfield that had relied on the veterans [Luka Modrić](https://www.edgepedia.org/luka-modric) and [Toni Kroos](https://www.edgepedia.org/toni-kroos).[2](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-analysis-stats-real-madrid) He was seen as the natural successor to Casemiro, operating higher than Modrić and Kroos in build-up in a manner similar to the Brazilian.[2](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-analysis-stats-real-madrid) • [3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-defensive-midfielders-in-the-world)
His first seasons in Madrid brought a substantial trophy collection: the [Copa del Rey](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-del-rey) in 2023, [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga) and the [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) in 2024, the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022, the UEFA Super Cup in 2022 and 2024, the Spanish Super Cup in 2024, and the Intercontinental Cup in 2024.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) In the 2025/26 La Liga season he recorded 1 goal, 2,622 minutes played, an average FotMob rating of 7.37, and 8 yellow cards.[8](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/914458/a-tchouam%C3%A9ni) In European competition that season, UEFA highlighted a standout performance against Benfica and named him Player of the Match for his equalizing goal in a Champions League fixture.[9](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a3-200cb82ba5bf-3db91658c810-1000--champions-league-performance-insights-the-role-of-the-mo/) • [10](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a3-200cb79306f4-ac3139bf54c0-1000--in-the-zone-aurelien-tchouameni-strike-shows-real-madrid-s/)
His time at the club has included physical setbacks. In November 2025 Real Madrid's medical services diagnosed an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left thigh,[11](https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/medical-reports/parte-medico-de-tchouameni-06-11-2025) and a knee injury kept him out in late March 2026.[12](https://www.footmercato.net/joueur/aurelien-tchouameni/blessures) In May 2026 a training-ground fight with teammate [Federico Valverde](https://www.edgepedia.org/federico-valverde), which sent the Uruguayan to hospital with a head wound, led the club to open disciplinary proceedings against both players, and Real Madrid fined each of them €500,000.[13](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-05-08/el-real-madrid-prepara-una-sancion-economica-ejemplar-para-valverde-y-tchouameni-por-la-pelea-que-ha-desatado-una-crisis-en-el-club.html) • [14](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/05/08/tchouameni-entrena-con-normalidad-valverde-no-esta-en-valdebebas-y-el-real-madrid-busca-el-topo-que-filtro-la-pelea-cadena-ser/) After José Mourinho's arrival as Real Madrid manager in 2026, Tchouaméni missed the first five competitive matches of the season with muscle problems carried over from the World Cup.[15](https://as.com/futbol/primera/mourinho-corta-la-sangria-f202610-n/)
## France
Tchouaméni made his senior debut for France on 1 September 2021 in a 1–1 draw against Bosnia-[Herzegovina](https://www.edgepedia.org/herzegovina) and started the [UEFA Nations League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-nations-league) final victory over Spain that October.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) • [5](https://www.footylogos.com/careers/aurelien-tchouameni) At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he played all seven of France's matches, scored against England in the quarter-final, and finished on the losing side in the final against Argentina.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html)
He was a regular through the Euro 2024 campaign, starting five matches including the semi-final defeat to Spain, and reached 50 caps with 3 goals by mid-2026.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) At the 2026 World Cup he started four of France's matches, including the semi-final win over Spain's group-stage opponents and the final, which France lost 0–2 to Spain on 14 July 2026 in Arlington, Texas.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) He later confirmed that he had played the tournament with a thigh injury and had taken risks to reach his top level, a decision that affected the start of his following club season.[16](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/asumi-riesgos-en-el-mundial-f202610-n/)
## Playing style
Tchouaméni is a defensive midfielder who combines physical power, positional discipline, and a strong long-range shot, with the versatility to play center-back.[17](https://thebenchviewsoccer.com/players/aurelien-tchouameni) Standing 185 cm and weighing about 80 kg according to the French Football Federation (Real Madrid lists him at 1.87 m and 81 kg), he uses his frame to shield the ball and brush off defenders.[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html) • [18](https://www.realmadrid.com/fr-FR/football/equipe-premiere/effectif/aurelien-tchouameni)
His ball-winning is regarded as his biggest strength, and his defensive metrics at Monaco placed him in the top 20 percent of Ligue 1 midfielders for adjusted interceptions and defensive duels won, and the top 10 percent for overall duels.[2](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-analysis-stats-real-madrid) • [19](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/aurelien-tchouameni-2021-22-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) He is also a capable distributor, with long, disguised passes from deep a noted feature of his game, and he has been described as the player most involved in the ball usage of the France team.[19](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/aurelien-tchouameni-2021-22-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) • [20](https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Decryptage-tchouameni-un-meneur-fiable-mais-par-defaut-pour-les-bleus/1481103) FourFourTwo ranked him ninth among the world's defensive midfielders in 2025, describing him as an all-round midfielder and a key man for both Real Madrid and France.[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-defensive-midfielders-in-the-world)
## References
1. [Aurélien TCHOUAMÉNI, Fédération Française de Football](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/9440-tchouameni-aurelien/fiche.html)
2. [Aurélien Tchouaméni Analysis: Real Madrid's New Golden Boy, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-analysis-stats-real-madrid)
3. [Ranked! The 20 best defensive midfielders in the world, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-defensive-midfielders-in-the-world)
4. [Aurélien TCHOUAMENI, The GFFN 100 (2020)](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/assets/2021-MAG-MASTERS-compressed-2.pdf)
5. [Aurélien Tchouaméni: career timeline, FootyLogos](https://www.footylogos.com/careers/aurelien-tchouameni)
6. [Aurélien Tchouaméni: Do France Have Another World-Class Midfielder?, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/articles/aurelien-tchouameni-impressing-at-monaco)
7. [Aurélien Tchouameni, une ascension fulgurante en rouge et blanc, AS Monaco](https://www.asmonaco.com/fr/news/aurelien-tchouameni-a-las-monaco-a-toute-allure)
8. [Aurélien Tchouaméni, stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/914458/a-tchouam%C3%A9ni)
9. [Champions League Performance Insights: The role of the modern midfielder, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a3-200cb82ba5bf-3db91658c810-1000--champions-league-performance-insights-the-role-of-the-mo/)
10. [In The Zone: Aurélien Tchouaméni strike shows Real Madrid's running menace, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a3-200cb79306f4-ac3139bf54c0-1000--in-the-zone-aurelien-tchouameni-strike-shows-real-madrid-s/)
11. [Tchouameni medical report, Real Madrid CF](https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/medical-reports/parte-medico-de-tchouameni-06-11-2025)
12. [Blessure Aurélien Tchouameni : nombre de jours blessé et historique, Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/joueur/aurelien-tchouameni/blessures)
13. [El Real Madrid impone multas de 500.000 euros a Valverde y a Tchouameni, El País](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-05-08/el-real-madrid-prepara-una-sancion-economica-ejemplar-para-valverde-y-tchouameni-por-la-pelea-que-ha-desatado-una-crisis-en-el-club.html)
14. [Tchouaméni entrena con normalidad, Valverde no está en Valdebebas, Cadena SER](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/05/08/tchouameni-entrena-con-normalidad-valverde-no-esta-en-valdebebas-y-el-real-madrid-busca-el-topo-que-filtro-la-pelea-cadena-ser/)
15. [Mourinho corta la sangría, AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/mourinho-corta-la-sangria-f202610-n/)
16. ["Asumí riesgos en el Mundial...", AS](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/asumi-riesgos-en-el-mundial-f202610-n/)
17. [Aurélien Tchouaméni Tactical Case Study, The Bench View Soccer](https://thebenchviewsoccer.com/players/aurelien-tchouameni)
18. [Tchouameni, Milieu Du Terrain Équipe Première, Real Madrid CF](https://www.realmadrid.com/fr-FR/football/equipe-premiere/effectif/aurelien-tchouameni)
19. [Aurélien Tchouaméni Scouting Report At Monaco 2021/2022, Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/aurelien-tchouameni-2021-22-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics)
20. [Décryptage : Tchouaméni, un meneur fiable mais par défaut pour les Bleus, L'Équipe](https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Decryptage-tchouameni-un-meneur-fiable-mais-par-defaut-pour-les-bleus/1481103)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › French footballers born 1995 onward › Midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license