Football can change a player’s path at a given moment. For Papa Samsou Niang, that moment came during the Barcelona Football Tryout, where the Senegalese midfielder stood out among the participants and was selected as one of the winners of the 14th edition.
Since then, his journey in Spain has continued to grow. After gaining different high-level experiences, Papa Samsou joined Deportivo Fabril, the reserve team of RC Deportivo de La Coruña, which officially announced his signing in January 2026 until June 2027.
His story is an example of how an opportunity to showcase talent can become a pathway towards professional football in Spain.
From Senegal to Spain, Papa Samsou’s first steps
Papa Samsou Niang was born in Thiès, Senegal, on January 2, 2006. He took his first steps in football at Keur Madior FC, a Senegalese club where he began his development before moving to Spain to continue developing his football career.
His game and movements stand out as a midfielder, a position in which he combines defensive work, ball recovery and the ability to contribute to the build-up of play.
Papa’s profile stands out for his tactical intelligence on the pitch. His vision and anticipation give him a balanced profile between defence and attack. He is able to quickly read what the game requires at any given moment and knows how to adapt his position. He also has a strong ability to recover the ball and brings intensity to the team.
His participation in the Barcelona Football Tryout
Papa Samsou’s journey in Spain took an important step during the 14th edition of the Barcelona Football Tryout, organised by Football Forward.
The Senegalese midfielder managed to stand out among the participating players thanks to his performance and footballing qualities, becoming one of the winners of the edition.
The Barcelona Football Tryout has become one of the best opportunities for international players to showcase their abilities in front of LaLiga scouts and continue progressing in their development and competitive journey.
In Papa’s case, that experience became one of the first steps on a path that would later lead him to become part of the Deportivo de La Coruña academy, a historic club that had recently been promoted to the top division in Spain.
An opportunity to continue growing in Spain
As part of the experience associated with the Barcelona Football Tryout, the player had the opportunity to continue training in a professional Spanish football environment, including a week of official training sessions with SD Huesca.
This experience allowed him to continue competing and training in a high-level environment, as well as showcase his abilities on the pitch.
His arrival at Deportivo Fabril
The next major step in Papa’s journey came with his arrival at Deportivo Fabril, the reserve team of Deportivo de La Coruña.
Before his signing was officially announced, the Senegalese midfielder spent several weeks working at the Dépor Training Center under the guidance of Manuel Pablo, the team’s director and head coach, who was able to directly assess his development within the club’s structure.
In January 2026, Deportivo officially announced his arrival at Fabril on a contract until June 2027. During his presentation, the club highlighted some of the characteristics that define his profile: positioning, vision, tactical intelligence and the ability to provide balance between defence and attack.
A new challenge competing in Primera Federación
The 2025/26 season was also a historic moment for Deportivo Fabril. The reserve team was crowned Group I champions of Segunda Federación and earned direct promotion to Primera Federación, the third tier of Spanish football. Promotion was secured in April 2026, with three matches remaining in the competition.
Fabril therefore enters the 2026/27 season in a more demanding division, a new competitive environment for Papa Samsou as he continues to establish himself within Spanish football.
From a football tryout to a new chapter in professional football
Papa Samsou’s story continues to be written. What began as an opportunity to showcase his talent at the Barcelona Football Tryout has evolved into an experience within the structure of Deportivo de La Coruña and, now, the challenge of competing with Fabril in Primera Federación.
His journey shows that a footballer’s development does not depend solely on one particular moment, but on the ability to make the most of every opportunity, adapt to new challenges and continue evolving.
