Turkish Delight: Austin FC Sends Star Striker Moussa Djitté on Loan to Turkish Powerhouse
According to a Monday announcement from Austin FC, the striker Moussa Djitté has been loaned to Bandirmaspor of Turkey’s second tier till the conclusion of the 2023–24 European season. The 23-year-old Senegalese player’s most recent loan assignment was with AC Ajaccio, where he made six appearances without scoring during their Ligue 1 relegation. He first signed on loan with the French team in January last year.
Djitté moved to FC Sion in Switzerland on June 21, 2018, from the Senegalese team ASC Niarry Tally. On July 22, 2018, he made his professional debut in a 2-1 Swiss Super League defeat to FC Lugano. On 17 June 2019, signed with Grenoble Foot 38 in the French Ligue 2. He joined Major League Soccer’s Austin FC on June 30, 2021, as part of the league’s U22 Initiative. In a 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake on September 14, 2022, Djitte recorded the first hat trick for Austin FC. With the victory, Austin FC secured their first-ever playoff berth.
Djitté was on loan at AC Ajaccio of the French Ligue 1 until June 30, 2023. Before joining Austin FC in June 2021, he played for Grenoble Foot 38 in the French Ligue 2. The Senegalese striker has played in 30 MLS games for the Verde & Black, during which time he has scored five goals and provided two assists. On September 15, 2022, he scored the Club’s first-ever hat trick against Real Salt Lake to help the team win the playoffs.
Djitté agreed to spend the rest of the season on loan with Ligue 1 team Ajaccio on January 31, 2023. On July 3, 2023, it was revealed that Djitté would sign a one-year loan agreement with Bandrmaspor of the TFF First League.
Djitté scored 15 goals and added two assists in 67 games while playing for Grenoble. Djitté played the 2018–19 Swiss Super League season with FC Sion before moving to France, making 25 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals. The attacker began his professional career with ASC Niarry Tally of the Senegal Premier League. Djitté has played on the international stage for the Senegal U-20 and U-23 National Teams.
At the 2017 Jeux de la Francophonie, Djitté played for the Senegal U20 team and scored the opening goal for his group. Also, in 2017, he competed for Senegal in the WAFU Cup of Nations.
In a 1-1 friendly draw with Morocco U23s on March 23, 2018, Djitté made his debut for the Senegal U23s and scored the lone goal for his team. Djitté joined Austin in June 2021 from Ligue 2 team Grenoble Foot 38. In 30 games (12 starts) while there, he has five goals and two assists. He signed the U22 Initiative before coming.
The Verde & Black striker corps, which includes Gyasi Zardes, Maxi Urruti, and Will Bruin, is experienced without Djitté. Zardes, acquired from the Colorado Rapids over the summer, is the team’s co-leading scorer with five goals.
In its third season, Austin hopes to capitalize on their performance in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final.
