Matteo Guendouzi is a midfielder who grew up in France. He spent his childhood and early youth in Poissy, a suburb of Paris. He began playing football at an early age and shaped his youth development with the goal of early professional advancement. From the earliest years of his career, his competitive attitude and high level of self-confidence attracted attention; this trait also became part of tensions that arose with coaching staff during certain periods.

Identity and Basic Information

His full name is Mattéo Elias Kenzo Guendouzi Olié. He was born on 14 April 1999 in Poissy. He stands 1.85 m tall and is right-footed. His primary position is central midfield, though he has also played as a deep-lying playmaker and offensive midfielder. He holds dual citizenship of France and Morocco. He is a player for the French national team. His management agency is recorded as Sport Cover and his equipment supplier as Adidas^【1】.

Childhood and Entry into Football

Guendouzi’s childhood years were spent in Poissy, where football became a regular and intense pursuit within his family environment and daily life. At home, especially in the backyard, games played with older siblings reinforced his football habits. Zinedine Zidane was one of the role models he admired during childhood; the idea of playing for the French national team and winning the World Cup became a target at an early age. The fusion of these early goals with the concept of “high-level achievement” established a clear direction in his subsequent club transitions and career planning.

Youth Years: Transition from Paris Saint-Germain to Lorient

Guendouzi joined the Paris Saint-Germain academy in 2005 and spent nearly nine years within the structure. He left PSG at the age of 14–15. In 2014, he moved to the FC Lorient academy. This transition was directly linked to his desire to reach first-team football. The perception of limited pathways to the senior team at PSG led him to focus on Lorient’s development plan.

Development at Lorient and the 2015 U17 Success

During his time at Lorient, Guendouzi quickly began regularly appearing for youth teams. He emerged as one of the standout players in the club’s U17 squad in 2015. This period reinforced his decision to leave PSG. His brother, Milan Guendouzi, also became a footballer; the development of both brothers was often discussed together in the context of Lorient’s youth system.

Professional Debut: Lorient First Team and Early Exit

Guendouzi made 24 appearances for Lorient B team. He was promoted to the first team at age 17. He made his professional debut on 15 October 2016 against Nantes, a match Lorient lost 2–1. During the 2016/17 season, he played for the first team in both league and cup competitions. At the end of the season, Lorient was relegated to Ligue 2. During this time, contract planning centered around his 18th birthday.

Tensions with Coaching Staff and Discipline

In his early professional years, on-field reactions and relationships with coaching staff became a topic of discussion. During the winter break of the 2016/17 season, in a cup match against Nice, he received an early yellow card. A tension arose during his substitution when he refused to shake hands with the head coach. As a result, he received limited playing time for the remainder of the season.

At the start of the 2017/18 season in Ligue 2 under manager Mickaël Landreau, he did not feature regularly. He later regained his place in the team but became involved in a heated argument during halftime of a match against Valenciennes. Following the incident, he was excluded from the squad. He remained out of the team for approximately three months. After his return, he regained playing time in the final part of the season. During this period, the decision not to extend his contract became clear; interest from other clubs increased the likelihood of his departure.

Behavior and Temperament

Guendouzi’s on-field identity has always been defined by strong self-confidence and a competitive spirit. His high level of self-belief sometimes led to friction with coaching staff. Within these tensions, the issues were less about “bad faith” and more about “high ambition” and “uncontrolled reactions.” Experiences such as being excluded from the squad created a foundation for him to seek a different behavioral standard upon his returns.

Arsenal Era: Premier League Debut and Role Exploration

In the summer of 2018, Guendouzi transferred to Arsenal. The transfer fee was approximately £8 million. His move from Ligue 2 to the Premier League marked a significant step up in his career. At Arsenal, his primary role was central midfield, though he was also deployed in defensive midfield duties.

First Premier League Match and Early Period

He made his Premier League debut at Emirates Stadium against Manchester City. This match represented a new threshold in terms of pace and physical intensity. During this phase of his career, his number of top-level appearances remained relatively limited; however, he consistently featured within the squad.

Internal Competition and Positioning

At Arsenal, during the same period, competition emerged with new signings such as Lucas Torreira. Guendouzi’s young age and limited top-level experience led to his placement in rotational roles. His positioning within the club’s summer planning indicated that Arsenal viewed him as a player for the future.

Post-Arsenal Transition: Loan to Hertha Berlin

An on-field incident involving Brighton player Neal Maupay marked one of the turning points during his time at Arsenal. Following the incident, his position at the club became unsustainable. He was subsequently loaned to Hertha Berlin for the next season. He made 24 appearances for Hertha Berlin and scored 2 goals.

Marseille Era: Loan, Permanent Transfer, and On-Field Contribution

At the start of the 2021/22 season, Guendouzi was not included in Arsenal’s plans. He was therefore loaned to Olympique de Marseille. This loan agreement included an option to buy. On 1 July 2022, Marseille acquired his registration rights permanently. At Marseille, he played regularly as a central midfielder. He finished the 2021/22 season with 6 goals and 8 assists.

The Nice Incident

During a Ligue 1 match against Nice while playing for Marseille, fans entered the pitch. In response, Guendouzi intervened to protect Dimitri Payet. As a result of the incident, he sustained visible marks on his neck.

Lazio Era: Transfer to Italy and the 2025/26 Profile

On 31 August 2023, Guendouzi joined Lazio on loan. His loan period ended on 30 June 2024. On 1 July 2024, he signed permanently with Lazio. His contract with Lazio runs until 30 June 2028. During the 2025/26 season, he appeared in 15 of 18 possible Serie A matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist. He received 5 yellow cards and 1 red card. His rate of starting in the first eleven remained high.

Matteo Guendouzi (AA)

Market Value

His current market value is €28.00 million. His highest market value was €50.00 million on 12 October 2019. The last update was on 23 December 2025.

National Team Career: Youth Levels and Transition to Senior Team

Guendouzi played for the French U18, U19, and U20 national teams. He scored goals at the U19 and U20 levels. He made his debut for the French senior national team on 16 November 2021. He has played 14 matches for the senior team, scoring 2 goals. At U21 level, he played 20 matches and scored 1 goal; at U20 level, he played 3 matches and scored 1 goal; at U19 level, he played 2 matches and scored 1 goal; and at U18 level, he played 7 matches. Although eligible to play for Morocco, he chose to represent France.

On-Field Role and Character

Guendouzi’s primary role has been central midfield. At Arsenal, he performed duties close to the box-to-box profile and occasionally played as a defensive midfielder. At Marseille, he was used more consistently along the central midfield line, functioning as a key link in passing sequences. Since his Lorient years, his tendency to play with his head up and initiate attacks through passing has remained consistent. Alongside this productive trait, certain periods have also featured reactive behavior and impulsive actions as part of his on-field profile.