Idrissa Gueye Biography: Wife, Age, Parents, Net Worth, Height, Religion, Stats, Games, Brother, Kids

Biography

Idrissa Gana Gueye, born on September 26, 1989, in Dakar, Senegal, is a tenacious Senegalese professional footballer who is a defensive midfielder renowned for his tireless work rate and tackling prowess.

Emerging from the Diambars academy founded by Patrick Vieira, he honed his skills before joining Lille’s reserves in 2008, breaking into the first team in 2010. There, he contributed to a Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 2011.

Gueye‘s career took him to Aston Villa in 2015, followed by a move to Everton in 2016, a stint at Paris Saint-Germain from 2019 to 2022—where he won three Ligue 1 titles—and a return to Everton in 2022 on a contract extending to 2026.

Internationally, he has been a mainstay for Senegal since his 2011 debut, playing in two World Cups and five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, culminating in victory at the 2021 edition. Married to Pauline Gueye, he is a father of two.

Senegalese footballer
Idrissa Gueye
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Idrissa Gana Gueye
Stage Name:	Idrissa Gueye
Born:	26 September 1989 (age 36 years old)
Place of Birth:	Dakar, Senegal
Nationality:	Senegalese
Education:	Diambars Academy
Height:	1.74 m
Parents:	Marie Gueye, Moussa Gueye
Siblings:	3
Spouse:	Pauline Gueye (m. 2016)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Isaac Gueye, Ismael Gueye
Occupation:	Football Player
Net Worth:	$23 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Idrissa Gana Gueye was born on September 26, 1989, in Dakar, Senegal, and grew up in the lively, working-class suburb of Camberene, where football was played everywhere – on dusty streets, beaches, and narrow alleys.

Barefoot and using whatever ball was available, he honed his craft alongside his older brothers, who passed down tricks, bought him his first proper boots and shin pads, and made sure the youngest of the four siblings – three boys and one girl – never forgot the joy of the game.

His mother, Marie Gueye, anchored the family with quiet strength, discipline, and deep faith. At the same time, his father, Moussa Gueye, an enthusiastic amateur footballer born in the Ivory Coast, spotted the spark early, supplied the balls, and repeatedly told him never to lose sight of where he came from.

Moussa gave him the middle name “Gana” after his own father and remained a guiding figure until his passing in 2024. The same tight streets of Camberene also produced Iliman Ndiaye, a few years younger, whom Idrissa has always looked out for like a little brother; the two still share that easy, protective bond forged in childhood kickabouts.

Another neighbourhood friend, Pape Souare (Pape Gueye), is someone Idrissa has affectionately called his “brother from another mother” over the years.

Raised in a devout Muslim home of Wolof Senegalese heritage with Ivorian roots through his father, faith has always been Idrissa’s compass. He attends mosque regularly, has completed the Hajj, and quietly leads teammates in prayer before matches.

At thirteen, he left home for the Diambars Academy in Saly, founded by Patrick Vieira and Bernard Lama. There, far from family, the rigorous daily routine of training sessions, schoolwork, and preparation for the Baccalauréat instilled the resilience and humility that still define him.

Those years away, balancing books and balls while surrounded by the academy’s mantra of respect and hard work, turned the street kid from Camberene into the relentless midfielder the world now knows – and, just as importantly, into the grounded man who still calls Dakar home.

Career

Idrissa Gana Gueye’s professional football career took shape after his development at the Diambars Academy in Senegal, where his talent earned him a move to Lille in 2008.

He began with the reserve team and eased his way into senior football, breaking through fully in the 2010–11 season. At just 21, he featured in 11 Ligue 1 matches as Lille won their first league title in 56 years and started in the Coupe de France final, helping secure a 1–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain to complete a historic double.

Over the following four seasons, he became a mainstay in midfield, making more than 100 league appearances and establishing himself as a tireless ball-winner. This form led to his Senegal national team debut in 2011.

In July 2015, he embraced a new challenge in England, joining Aston Villa for a reported £9 million. He made his Premier League debut in a 1–0 win over Bournemouth and quickly adapted, starting 31 league matches in his first season.

Despite his efforts, Villa were relegated, and his only goal for the club—scored in an FA Cup replay against Wycombe Wanderers—was one of the few bright spots. Undeterred, he joined Everton in 2016 for £7.1 million, where he flourished as a defensive midfield specialist.

Across three seasons and 109 Premier League appearances, he became one of the league’s most consistent tacklers, forming reliable partnerships with teammates such as James McCarthy and Morgan Schneiderlin. Though not a prolific scorer, his work rate and interceptions made him a fan favourite at Goodison Park.

The prospect of Champions League football took Gueye back to France in 2019 when he signed for Paris Saint-Germain for €8 million. At PSG, he became part of an elite midfield unit alongside Marco Verratti and Leandro Paredes, contributing to three straight Ligue 1 titles between 2019 and 2022.

A standout chapter of his time in Paris was the club’s run to the 2020 UEFA Champions League final, though he watched the final from the bench as PSG narrowly lost to Bayern Munich. Overall, he registered 81 Ligue 1 appearances, scored four goals, and lifted multiple domestic honours, reinforcing PSG’s dominance during his tenure.

A return to Everton followed in 2022 on a free transfer, marking an emotional homecoming. He signed a two-year contract, later extended to 2026, and quickly reestablished himself as a reliable presence amid a difficult period for the club, which included managerial changes and points deductions.

By late 2025, he had made more than 80 additional Premier League appearances, occasionally captaining the side and earning immense respect for his leadership, humility, and consistency even at age 36.

On the international stage, Gueye has been a cornerstone of the Senegal national team since his debut in 2011. With over 120 caps, he became the first Teranga Lion to reach 100 appearances in 2023 during a dominant 5–1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier win over Mozambique.

He has represented Senegal at two FIFA World Cups (2018 and 2022) and five AFCON tournaments. His defining moment came at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where he helped guide Senegal to their first-ever major trophy and converted his penalty in the final shootout victory over Egypt.

With 28 club goals across 592 career matches and 11 major titles, Gueye’s rise from the streets of Dakar to Europe’s biggest stages reflects resilience, discipline, and world-class defensive ability that continues to make him one of football’s most dependable midfielders.

Social Media

• Facebook: Idrissa Gueye
• Wikipedia: Idrissa Gueye
• Instagram: Idrissa Gana Gueye (@iganagueye)
• Twitter: Idrissa Gana Gueye (@IGanaGueye) / X

Personal Life

Idrissa Gana Gueye, born on September 26, 1989, is 36 years old and maintains the peak physical condition that has defined his midfield career despite the demands of professional football at the highest level.

Standing at 1.74 meters (5 feet 9 inches), his compact build and low centre of gravity have long been assets in his tenacious, ball-winning style of play.

Gueye is married to Pauline Gueye, whom he first connected with in 2011 through a Facebook friend request that sparked conversations and eventually blossomed into romance.

Some accounts place the start of their dating around 2014. Still, the couple navigated early challenges, including long-distance, while Pauline completed her master’s studies in France before joining him in England.

They married several years into their relationship and have built a stable family life together, with Pauline transitioning from a successful career as an account manager in an IT outsourcing company to focusing on homemaking and supporting Gueye‘s moves between clubs in England and France.

This appears to be Gueye‘s only marriage, reflecting a committed partnership that has endured the spotlight of his football fame.

The couple shares two sons, Isaac Gueye and Ismael Gueye, who often feature in family-oriented social media posts.

Pauline, born on May 11, 1990, has embraced her role as a devoted mother, co-founding the For Hope Association and maintaining an active Instagram presence under @paulinegueye_ to inspire others

Net Worth

Idrissa Gueye, the Senegalese defensive midfielder for Everton, boasts an estimated net worth of around $23 million (£18 million), accumulated through a distinguished career spanning Lille, Aston Villa, Everton, and Paris Saint-Germain, where he earned lucrative contracts and bonuses from three Ligue 1 titles.

His current salary at Everton, following a one-year extension signed in July 2025, stands at approximately £120,000 per week (or £6.24 million annually, excluding bonuses), reflecting his enduring value as a tackling maestro who led the Premier League in interceptions during the 2024-25 season.

This places him among Everton’s top earners, underscoring his stability in a squad navigating financial challenges.