1. Didier Ibrahim Ndong was born on 17 June 1994 and is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Persian Gulf Pro League side Esteghlal and the Gabon national team.
20 Facts About Didier Ndong
1. 2.
Didier Ndong made his first appearance under then manager Nabil Kouki on 26 September 2012, starting and playing 80' minutes against JS Kairouan before being substituted off, marking his only appearance for the first team that year.
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Didier Ndong made six further appearances for CS Sfaxien during the playoffs helping his side to win the national championship and their 8th title overall.
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On 3 January 2015, Didier Ndong signed for Ligue 1 side Lorient on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
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Didier Ndong initially stayed with Sunderland following their relegation to the Championship playing regularly.
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Didier Ndong signed for Premier League Watford on loan on 31 January 2018 during the January Transfer Window.
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Didier Ndong was suspended for his first game, following a red card in his final game for Sunderland.
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Didier Ndong failed to report to the club's training ground as expected, resulting in the club withholding the player's wages.
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Sunderland fans' feelings toward the club's record signing became increasingly hostile, made worse when Didier Ndong appeared to post an image on Instagram of him sitting poolside at a holiday resort.
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The parallels with the Didier Ndong situation were noted at the time of Djilobodji's sacking, with public comments from Stewart Donald suggesting that the players were "deliberately devaluing themselves" in order to engineer cheaper moves away from the club.
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Reports in Gabon suggested Didier Ndong feared the repercussions of a return to North East England, including possible arrest.
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Didier Ndong's representatives suggested the player was considering commissioning a negotiator to represent him in discussions with the club.
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Didier Ndong returned to Gabon and began training with an unnamed club in Libreville in October 2018, amid reports of personal financial difficulties.
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On 11 October 2018, Sunderland released a statement on their website indicating that an amicable agreement had been reached and Didier Ndong was no longer an employee of the club.
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The statement indicated that Sunderland would receive compensation when Didier Ndong signed for a new club.
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On 28 December 2018, En Avant Guingamp announced that they were due to sign Didier Ndong, following medical exams and finalising a deal with Sunderland.
17.
On 12 August 2023, Didier Ndong joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Riyadh on a free transfer.
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Didier Ndong started the first game as an infielder against Burkina Faso, playing 63 minutes.
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Didier Ndong played 56 minutes before being replaced by Guelor Kanga.
20.
Didier Ndong started the third and final hen match against Equatorial Guinea in the 69th minute, replacing Andre Poko.