Modou Faal
{{Short description|Gambian footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Modou Faal
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Modou Lamin Faal{{cite web |url=https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.eflservices.co.uk/04353ec0-24df-11ef-b4b6-4382bb2cf5f6.pdf |title=CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS |publisher=English Football League |page=25 |accessdate=9 June 2024}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2003|2|11}}
| birth_place = The Gambia
| height =
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Wrexham
| clubnumber = 22
| youthyears1 = 2018–2019
| youthclubs1 = Sutton Coldfield Town
| youthyears2 = 2019–2021
| youthclubs2 = West Bromwich Albion
| years1 = 2021–2024
| clubs1 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022
| clubs2 = → Hereford (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = → AFC Telford United (loan)
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2022–2023
| clubs4 = → AFC Fylde (loan)
| caps4 = 16
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 7
| years6 = 2024
| clubs6 = → Walsall (loan)
| caps6 = 20
| goals6 = 6
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = Wrexham
| caps7 = 7
| goals7 = 0
| club-update = 19:06, 11 February 2025 (UTC)
}}
Modou Lamin Faal (born 11 February 2003) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|Wrexham}} club Wrexham.
Early life
Faal was born in The Gambia but relocated to Birmingham, England with his family when he was seven years old.{{cite web|url=https://www.gambiasportswire.com/stories/who-is-west-broms-modou-faal-an-exclusive-chat-with-his-manager|title=Who is West Brom's Modou Faal?|website=Gambia Sports Wire|accessdate=25 August 2021}}
Club career
=West Bromwich Albion=
Faal joined the West Bromwich Albion academy in November 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.westbromnews.co.uk/2019/11/20/confirmed-west-brom-sign-new-striker-for-u17s/|title=Confirmed: West Brom sign new striker for U17s|website=West Brom News|date=20 November 2019|accessdate=25 August 2021}} at the age of 16, after impressing during a two-week trial. He had been scouted while playing local football for Sutton Coldfield Town in Birmingham.{{cite web|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/player/134|title=Modou Faal|website=West Bromwich Albion|accessdate=25 August 2021}} He made an early impression and became the first scholar in West Brom history to play for the U-23's, featuring in a number of matches for Deon Burton's side during the 2020–21 campaign. He was also a regular fixture in Albion's U-18 side and enjoyed a prolific season, scoring seven goals.
He made his professional debut on 25 August 2021, coming on as a substitute for Kenneth Zohore, in a 0–6 loss to Arsenal in the second round of the EFL Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58252911|title=West Brom 0-6 Arsenal|website=BBC|date=25 August 2021}} On 13 August 2024, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away defeat against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup first round.{{cite web|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/fleetwood-2-1-albion|title=Fleetwood 2-1 West Brom|website=West Bromwich Albion|date=13 August 2024}}
==Loan Spells==
On 5 March 2022, he signed for National League North side Hereford on a one-month loan deal, with The Bulls just outside the play-offs in 8th position.{{cite web|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/faal-makes-hereford-loan-move|title=FAAL MAKES HEREFORD LOAN MOVE|website=West Bromwich Albion FC|date=5 March 2022|accessdate=12 May 2022}}
On 2 December 2022, Faal moved to AFC Fylde of the National League North on a one-month loan deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/modou-faal-loaned-in/|title=Modou Faal Loaned In|website=AFC Fylde|date=2 December 2022|accessdate=31 December 2022}} The loan was later extended until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/mo-faal-extends-coasters-loan/|title=MO FAAL EXTENDS COASTERS LOAN|publisher=AFC Fylde|date=5 January 2022|accessdate=6 January 2022}} He was recalled on 6 March 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/mo-faal-recalled-from-coasters-loan-spell/|title=Mo Faal Recalled From Coasters Loan Spell|website=www.afcfylde.co.uk|date=6 March 2023|accessdate=13 March 2023}} His performances prior to his recall saw him win the February National League North Player of the Month award having scored five goals across the month and scoring a total of 10 goals in the 16 games during his full spell at the National League North side.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/faal-play-sparks-award-as-craig-collects-best-boss-75095|title=Faal Play Sparks Award As Craig Collects Best Boss Gong|website=www.thenationalleague.org.uk|date=13 March 2023|accessdate=13 March 2023}}
On 11 August 2023, Faal joined League Two club Doncaster Rovers on a season-long loan deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/mo-faal-signing/|title=Rovers sign Modou Faal on loan|website=www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk|date=11 August 2023|accessdate=11 August 2023}} On 13 January 2024, he returned to his parent club with manager Grant McCann expressing his disappointment in the way that the striker had handled the situation.{{cite web|url=https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/faal-loan/|title=Mo Faal loan ends|website=www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk|date=13 January 2024|accessdate=15 January 2024}}
On 15 January 2024, Faal returned to League Two with Walsall on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2024/january/mo-faal-joins-the-saddlers-on-loan-from-west-bromwich-albion/|title=Mo Faal joins the Saddlers on loan from West Bromwich Albion|website=www.saddlers.co.uk|date=15 January 2024|accessdate=15 January 2024}}
=Wrexham=
On 30 August 2024, Faal signed for Wrexham on a three-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/august/30/signed---/ |title=SIGNED Wrexham AFC sign Mo Faal from West Brom|website=www.wrexhamafc.co.uk|date=30 August 2024|accessdate=30 August 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 11 February 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|West Bromwich Albion
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|133548|2021|access-date=20 February 2025}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|133548|2022|access-date=20 February 2025}}
|Championship |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|133548|2023|access-date=20 February 2025}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|133548|2024|access-date=20 February 2025}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Hereford (loan)
|2021–22{{soccerway|mo-faal/645082|accessdate=25 August 2021}} |4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | ||||
| AFC Telford United (loan)
|National League North |6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
| AFC Fylde (loan)
|National League North |16 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 10 | ||||
| Doncaster Rovers (loan)
|25 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 1 | 33 | 9 | |
| Walsall (loan)
|20 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 6 | ||||
| Wrexham
|7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 2 | 14 | 2 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!79 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 97 | 29 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
West Bromwich Albion U23
- Premier League Cup: 2021–22{{Cite web |last=Masi |first=Joseph |date=13 May 2022 |title=West Brom win Black Country derby PL Cup final in dramatic penalty shoot-out |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2022/05/13/west-brom-win-black-country-derby-pl-cup-final-in-dramatic-penalty-shoot-out/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=www.shropshirestar.com |language=en}}
Individual
- National League North Player of the Month: February 2023
References
{{reflist}}
{{Wrexham A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faal, Modou}}
Category:Gambian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Gambian sportsmen
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:Gambian emigrants to England
Category:English people of Gambian descent
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:Hereford F.C. players
Category:AFC Telford United players
Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players