Beating Lille, Nantes and Nice to the same target is no small feat for a Ligue 2 club. Yet that is exactly what AS Saint-Étienne pulled off, officially announcing the signing of Cameroonian forward André Zibi on August 11.
Born on April 6, 2008, the young Cameroonian international grew up at Oyili FC, the training club where he stood out for his consistency in front of goal. His move to Europe marks a new chapter for a player several scouts had been tracking for months.
On the continental stage, Zibi played all three of Cameroon's matches at the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring once during the tournament. He is also among the players tracked by the national U20 selection.
At Saint-Étienne, his integration will happen in stages: the club plans to have him play first with the reserve team, or even the U19 side, before considering a gradual step up toward the professional squad rather than an immediate Ligue 2 debut.
That gradual development path contrasts with the rush that sometimes surrounds the transfer of young African talents to Europe: at Saint-Étienne, Zibi will first need to prove himself with the reserve and U19 sides before any announced first-team appearance.
