Ngagne Demba Thiam, the long Italian journey to the Lions September 22, 2026

At 28 years old, Ngagne Demba Thiam arrives at the Lions with a very different journey from that of Mamour Ndiaye. Trained in Italy, passed through several clubs and long accustomed to the demands of Italian professional football, the Monza goalkeeper finally discovers the A selection.

Born in Dakar on March 5, 1998, Ngagne Demba Thiam built most of his career in Italy. Arriving at SPAL at a very young age, he signed his first professional contract in 2017. His apprenticeship then went through several loans which allowed him to accumulate playing time and discover different levels of Italian football.

He notably had stints at Fano, Viterbese and Foggia before joining Juve Stabia in 2023. It is with this club that his career truly takes on a new dimension. In his first season, he helped lead Juve Stabia to Serie B, conceding just 20 goals throughout the campaign. The following season, he confirmed in the Italian second division and participated in the club’s journey to the semi-finals of the play-offs.

This regularity opens the doors to Monza for him. The Lombard club formalizes its arrival in July 2025 with a contract running until June 2028, with an option for an additional season. The Senegalese goalkeeper then returns to the highest level of Italian football, after having already experienced Serie A with SPAL in July 2020.

His profile is unique. At 2.02 m, Thiam has an imposing size which constitutes one of his main assets in the air. But his journey above all tells the story of a goalkeeper who had to wait, multiply experiences and gradually earn his place in Italian professional football.

This season, his name still appears in the Monza squad, with number 20. He was also retained in the club’s groups for the first days of the 2026-2027 season.

His first call-up with the Lions therefore rewards a long period of progression away from Senegal. Unlike Mamour Ndiaye, who represents youth and projection, Thiam arrives with more maturity and experience accumulated over the years in Italy.

Patrick Vieira thus offers him a first opportunity to take the final step: going from the status of experienced Italian football goalkeeper to that of a Senegalese international. In a selection which must reorganize its hierarchy after the retirement of Édouard Mendy, this call-up could constitute the start of a new stage in his career.

Sheikh Gora DIOP