Alphonse Areola

Alphonse Areola is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the France national team and Premier League side West Ham United.

Early Life

Alphonse Areola was born on February 27, 1993, in Paris, France. He grew up in the suburbs of Paris and began playing football at a young age. He played for Entente Sportive des Petits Anges before being scouted by Paris Saint-Germain's youth academy, which he joined at the age of just 13.

Areola's talent as a goalkeeper quickly became apparent, and he progressed through PSG's youth ranks before making his professional debut for the club in 2013.

Club Career

Areola started his professional club career with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2012, but he was mainly used as a backup goalkeeper in his first few seasons. In order to gain more experience, he was sent out on loan to several clubs, including RC Lens, Bastia, and Villarreal.

He returned to PSG in 2016 and became the team's first-choice goalkeeper in the 2017-18 season, helping PSG win the French Cup and the French League Cup that year. He continued to be a key player for the club in the following season, as PSG won another Ligue 1 title.

In August 2019, Areola was loaned out to Real Madrid, where he served as a backup to Thibaut Courtois. He played in several games for Real Madrid, including a key match against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League, where he made several crucial saves to help his team secure a draw.

Areola returned to PSG on loan for the 2020-21 season and played a key role in the team's run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. He also helped PSG win the French Super Cup that season.

In August 2021, Areola was loaned out to Fulham for the 2021-22 season. He impressed in his debut season in England and joined West Ham United permanently prior to the 2022-23 season for a fee of €12 million.

International Career

Areola has represented the French national team at various youth levels, including the under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-19 teams. He was part of the French squad that won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2010.

His first call-up to the senior French national team came in October 2015, when he was named to the squad for a friendly against Armenia. However, he did not make an appearance in that match.

Despite his strong performances at club level, Areola has yet to become a regular member of the French national team. He was included in the French squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but he did not play a single minute in the tournament, serving as a backup to Hugo Lloris.

He made his debut on September 6, 2018, in France’s UEFA Nations League game against Germany where he kept a clean sheet and was named Man of the Match. To date, he has only made five appearances for his country.

Records

• Areola helped PSG win the French Cup and the French League Cup in the 2017-18 season. He played in several key matches in those competitions, including the French Cup final, where he made several important saves to help PSG win 2-0.

• In the 2019-20 season, Areola helped PSG reach the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in the club's history. Although PSG lost the final to Bayern Munich, Areola played a key role in the team's run to the final.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Areola is known for his charitable work and has participated in various social initiatives, including campaigns to raise awareness about autism. He is also known for his love of music and has stated that he enjoys listening to a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, reggae, and electronic dance music.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $2.5 million.

Family

Areola's family has a strong connection to football. His father, Zoumana Camara, is a retired professional footballer who played as a central defender for several clubs in France, including Paris Saint-Germain, AS Saint-Étienne, and Montpellier HSC. Camara also played for the Senegal national team and represented the country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

His mother, Marie Areola, is of Filipino descent, and his parents separated when he was young. Areola was raised by his mother and stepfather, Pascal Areola, who adopted him and gave him his surname.

Areola has two siblings, a brother named Axel and a sister named Eloise. Axel is also a professional footballer who currently plays for the French club Valenciennes FC.

Wife

Areola is married to Marrion Areola. The couple got married in 2018 in a private ceremony in France. They have two children together, a daughter named Ayleen, born in 2018, and a son named Enzo, born in 2021.

Houses

Areola purchased a house in London, England in July 2020 prior to his move to the Premier League, however, not much else information is known about his houses.