French · Salzburg, Austria · Born 27 October 1998French centre-back who became one of Europe's most sought-after defenders, starring for RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich while reaching the 2022 World Cup final.
Dayot Upamecano was born in Évreux, France in 1998. Red Bull Salzburg's system developed him — producing the athletic, high-line defending style that the Red Bull network instils. RB Leipzig paid £9 million and Bayern Munich paid £38 million for him in 2021. His four Bayern seasons have produced three Bundesliga titles. He was part of the 2020 Champions League-winning Bayern squad. He represented France 40 times, reaching the 2022 World Cup Final. His combination of pace — allowing him to defend a high line and recover when beaten — with aerial ability and composure makes him the archetype of the modern high-pressing centre-back. He has been involved in errors at crucial moments across his Bayern career — a high-line defensive approach that occasionally results in costly individual moments — but his overall quality has never been seriously questioned. He forms France's defensive future alongside Konaté, Militão (Brazilian) and Saliba.
Key defender in France's 2022 World Cup final run
How They Played
Pacey centre-back with excellent ball-playing skills and aerial ability
Lasting Impact
Upamecano represents the modern generation of technically gifted centre-backs who are comfortable playing out from the back while maintaining traditional defensive qualities.
Career Honours
- Bundesliga 3x
- Champions League (2020)
- World Cup runner-up (France 2022)
- Bundesliga 2021
- Bundesliga 2022
- Bundesliga 2023
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2017–2017 | — | 14 | 5 | #2 |
| RB Leipzig | 2017–2021 | — | 139 | 5 | — |
| Bayern Munich | 2021–2024 | €42.5m | 119 | 3 | — |
| Valenciennes | 2015–2015 | — | 2 | 0 | — |
 France | — | — | 40 | 1 | — |
French Athletes