Papiss Demba Cissé (French pronunciation: [sise]; born 3 June 1985) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who plays amateur football as a forward for Cheshire Veterans Football League side Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s.
Formerly of SC Freiburg, he once held the record of most goals scored by an African player in a single Bundesliga campaign – 22 in the 2010–11 season.
A full international for Senegal from 2009 to 2015, Cissé represented the country at the 2012 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
Contents
Club career
Early career
Cissé began his career with Génération Foot and Douanes Dakar before transferring to the French side Metz in summer 2005. After only one month during the 2005–06 season, he left Metz and was loaned to French side Cherbourg. During the season, Cissé played 26 matches and scored 11 goals for the Normandy club. After the season, Cissé returned to Metz for a further two years before being loaned again to Châteauroux in January 2008 and before returning to Metz in July 2008 for a third stint.
SC Freiburg
Cissé signed for German Bundesliga side SC Freiburg on 28 December 2009 for a fee of €1.62 million. He initially became a transfer target for Freiburg in the summer of 2009 after he scored a goal and assisted on another in a 2–1 friendly win for Metz over the club. However, a transfer fee could not be agreed upon at the time. Hannover 96 also expressed interest in the player. In his first partial season at Freiburg, Cissé appeared in 16 matches, scoring six goals.
During the 2010–11 Bundesliga season, which was his first full season with Freiburg, Cissé was ranked second in the league in terms of goals scored, only behind Mario Gómez of Bayern Munich, who scored 28. Cissé also set a club and league record; his 22 goals during the course of the season set the single-season goal record by a Freiburg player, as well as setting a new record for the most goals scored by an African in a single Bundesliga season. The record was previously held by Tony Yeboah, who scored 20 goals with Eintracht Frankfurt in 1992–93. That same season, Cissé won the EFFIFU award for being the most efficient striker in the league.
Newcastle United
On 21 January 2012, Cissé signed for Newcastle United on a five-and-a-half-year deal for an estimated fee in the region of £9.3 million, linking up with fellow Senegal striker Demba Ba in the process. He was subsequently handed the number 9 shirt, formerly worn by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer. On 5 February, Cissé made his debut for Newcastle in the 2–1 league win against Aston Villa at St James' Park. He replaced the injured Leon Best in the 14th minute before scoring the winning goal in the 71st minute with a breath-taking volley, chesting it before volleying with his left into the top left corner of the net. On 11 February, he made his first start for the club in the 5–0 away league defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. On 25 February, he scored in the sixth minute in a 2–2 home draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 25 March, he scored two first-half goals in Newcastle's 1–3 league victory against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, but he was denied a hat-trick early in the second half by a save by West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster. Cissé's brace against West Brom made him the quickest player since Les Ferdinand to hit the five-goal mark for Newcastle.
Cissé scored his sixth and seventh goals, against Liverpool, in a 2–0 home win. He scored a third consecutive brace at Liberty Stadium in a 2–0 away win against Swansea City on 6 April, bringing his tally to nine goals in eight matches. This made him Newcastle's most prolific goals per-game goalscorer of all-time, ahead of Hughie Gallacher. On 9 April, he scored his tenth goal in nine matches for Newcastle against Bolton Wanderers in a 2–0 home win. On 21 April, Cissé scored his 11th goal in ten matches during a 3–0 win against Stoke City. He then managed to score his 12th and 13th Premier League goals in a 2–0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 2 May 2012, the second of which he curled the ball with the outside of his foot from 37 yards out, which looped over goalkeeper Petr Cech. Cissé described the goal as the best of his career, and was subsequently chosen as the BBC's Goal of the Season. At the end of his first half season with Newcastle, he was known for his consistent goalscoring, with astonishing goals firing the North East club into a fifth place spot in the table.
On 4 July 2012, it was reported that Newcastle had blocked an offer from the Senegalese Football Federation for Cissé to play for Senegal at 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The reason behind the decision was that Newcastle wanted their key striker fit for a tough season ahead, playing European football. Cissé scored his first goal in the 2012–13 season with a header in the League Cup against Manchester United. He scored Newcastle's third goal in their Europa League defeat of Bordeaux on 4 October 2012, Newcastle's 100th match in European competition. He scored his first Premier League goal of the season in a 2–1 win over West Bromwich Albion on 28 October 2012, as a shot taken by Sammy Ameobi deflected off Cissé and into the net. The striker's scoring was scarce throughout the opening four months of the season, only scoring his second league goal of the season on 28 November, a 2–1 away defeat to Stoke City.
Shandong Luneng
On 9 July 2016, it was announced that Cissé had joined Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng for an undisclosed fee. He scored on his second appearance for the club, in an eventual 4–1 win over Hangzhou Greentown.
Alanyaspor
On 31 August 2018, he signed with Alanyaspor of the Turkish Süper Lig. He made his debut against Göztepe on 1 September 2018 and he scored his first goal against Kasımpaşa on 23 September 2018 and in the same game he scored one more goal and Alanyaspor won the game 2–1.
On 28 April 2019, Cissé was involved in a coach crash which killed Alanyaspor team mate Josef Šural. Cissé escaped with minor injuries.
Fenerbahçe
On 1 October 2020, Fenerbahçe announced the signing of Cissé.
Amiens
On 31 August 2022, Cissé signed with Ligue 2 side Amiens SC. On 1 July 2023, Cissé was released.
Free agent
In November 2023, Cissé began training with English club Macclesfield.
Al Qabila FC
In March 2025, Cissé returned to football to play for UAE side Al Qabila FC, now known as FC Palm City.
International career
Cissé made his international debut for Senegal on 12 August 2009, in a friendly away to Congo DR, scoring two goals as Senegal emerged victorious 2–1. Cissé scored a hat-trick in his fourth appearance for the national side, as Senegal ran away to a 7–0 victory over Mauritius on 9 October 2010 in a qualifying match for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Cissé also captained the Senegal team from 2012 to 2013. Cissé's most recent Senegalese goal was against Botswana in November 2014, his 16th international goal.
Personal life
Cissé is a practicing Muslim, and when celebrating a goal he often performs the Sujud. He along with other Muslim Newcastle players Cheick Tioté, Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa allegedly objected to Newcastle United's shirt-sponsorship deal with high-interest loans company Wonga as Islam generally forbids promoting usury or financial exploitation. Following the publication of a photograph showing Cissé at a gaming table at Aspers Casino in Newcastle, it was announced that the matter had been resolved, with Cissé agreeing to wear the shirt featuring the logo of the loan company.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 1 April 2023
International
Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cissé goal.
Honours
FC Metz
Ligue 2: 2006-07