French-Malian defender Lassana Sylla has joined Pays du Valois from Saint-Quentin on a free transfer, completing his move to the French club on 31 July 2026.
Sylla, 24, plays primarily at centre-back and stands 1.84m tall. The right-footed defender was born in Saint-Quentin and holds both French and Malian nationality. He joins Pays du Valois after leaving Saint-Quentin, where he had been playing in the French National 2 structure.
The move continues a series of free transfers in Sylla’s senior career. He joined Saint-Quentin from AS Beauvais on 31 January 2025, having previously moved in the opposite direction from Saint-Quentin to Beauvais in July 2023. Before that, he had progressed from Saint-Quentin’s reserve side after joining it from EFAFC’s under-19 team.
Sylla’s recorded league performances include 36 appearances and three goals in National 2 Group E. He has also made 23 appearances in National 1 Group C and 20 in National 1 Group B. His cup record includes six Coupe de France appearances, with one assist.
The defender has also appeared in National 1 Group A and National U19 Group A, giving him experience across several levels of French domestic football. His most productive recorded league campaign came in National 2 Group E, where he featured 36 times and scored three goals.
Saint-Quentin’s departure marks the latest step in a career spent largely within French football. Sylla’s previous move to the club from AS Beauvais was also completed without a transfer fee, while his earlier progression through Saint-Quentin’s reserve team provided a route into senior football.
Pays du Valois have now added Sylla to their squad as a defender following the completion of the free transfer.
