Guinea captain Issiaga Sylla moves to Greek club after long spell in France

Photo: Asteras Tripolis

After over thirteen years in French club football, Guinea national team captain and left back Issiaga Sylla is off to a new destination on the Mediterranean coast after completing a move to Greek top flight club Asteras Tripolis on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old native of Conakry is already training with the Greek Super League club, joining on a free transfer after his contract with Montpellier expired at the end of last month. After two-and-a-half seasons with Montpellier, Sylla left after the club finished dead last in France's Ligue 1 and were relegated to Ligue 2.

Sylla made well over 300 appearances in French club football since joining Toulouse as an 18-year-old from famous Conakry giants Horoya AC. He collected 13 goals and 17 assists from 276 appearances in Ligue 1 with Toulouse, GFC Ajaccio, Lens and Montpellier.

But Sylla is best known as a reliable player with the Guinea national team. He captained the West African nation at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Syli National reached the quarterfinals. Sylla continues to wear the armband, leading his national team during Guinea's unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as well as Guinea's ongoing attempt to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A reliable crosser of the ball, Sylla has 3 goals and 5 assists in 85 appearances for Guinea from the left back position. He joins an Asteras Tripolis side that finished 6th place at the conclusion of the 2024-25 Super League Greece season, just missing out on qualification for UEFA club competition.