Ibou Omar Touray (born 24 December 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a left back for EFL League Two club Salford City. Born in England, he represents The Gambia at international level, qualifying through his father.[2]
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Ibou Omar Touray[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1994-12-24) 24 December 1994 (age 27) | ||
Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
Position(s) | Left back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Salford City | ||
Number | 3 | ||
Youth career | |||
2011–2014 | Everton | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014–2015 | Chester | 19 | (0) |
2015–2016 | Rhyl | 29 | (2) |
2016–2017 | Nantwich Town | ||
2017– | Salford City | 211 | (8) |
National team‡ | |||
2015– | Gambia | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:42, 19 November 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:54, 20 October 2020 (UTC) |
Born in Toxteth,[3] Liverpool, England, Touray started his career at Everton, having joined the club in 2011.[4] He was close of joining Liverpool before joining Everton instead.[5] After progressing through the Everton's youth system, he signed his first professional contract at the club in July 2013.[4][2] Although he was given a number 40 shirt in the 2013–14 season, he was released by the club in May 2014.[6]
After leaving Everton in the summer, Touray went on a trial at Tranmere Rovers.[7] After the trial was unsuccessful, he joined Chester on 13 September 2014.[8]
After appearing as an unused substitute against Woking, Touray made his Chester debut three days later joining the club, coming on as a first half substitute, in a 2–0 win over Southport.[9] Since making his Chester debut, Touray quickly established himself in the starting eleven at the club, playing in the left-midfield position.[5] His performance attracted attention from League One side Oldham Athletic, which he appeared on the substitute bench on two occasions.[10] After returning, he appeared in every match until he was sent-off for a "wild challenge" on Nicky Clee, in a 4–1 loss to Altrincham on 31 December 2014.[11] Although he served a three match suspension,[12] Touray, however, lost his first team place for the rest of the season and was released by the club.[13]
After leaving Chester, Touray moved to Wales when he joined Rhyl.[14][15]
Touray made his Rhyl debut in the opening game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Bangor City on 21 August 2015, starting the whole game.[16] Since making his Rhyl debut, he established himself in the starting eleven for the side despite missing out one game through suspension.[17] It wasn't until on 9 April 2016 when Touray scored his first goals, in a 5–0 win over Port Talbot Town.[18] Rhyl had not won in 16 matches and faced accusations of match fixing due to suspicious betting patterns.[19] At the end of the season, Touray went on to make a total of 29 appearances and scoring two times in total.
After one season at Rhyl, Touray was released by Rhyl in May 2016.[20][21]
After being released by Rhyl,[20] he signed for Nantwich Town.[22] His move came after at a recommendation from the club's manager Dave Cooke.[23]
Touray made his Nantwich Town debut in the opening game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Ashton United.[24] Throughout the season, Touray established himself in the starting eleven at Nantwich Town as a left-back.[25] He'a also played a role when the club won 5–3 in the penalty shootout to the final of Cheshire Senior Cup against Warrington Town.[26] However, the club went on to lose the final after losing to Crewe Alexandra 3–2.[27]
After making 41 appearances in all competitions, Touray was awarded the club's Young Player of the Year.[28][29]
In May 2017, he signed for Salford City.[30] Touray made his Salford City debut in the opening game of the season, in a 2–0 loss against Darlington.[31] Following an impressive 2020–21 season, Touray was named in the 2020–21 EFL League Two Team of the Season at the league's annual awards ceremony.[32]
On 22 June 2021, Touray signed a new two-year contract; Touray and manager Gary Bowyer both cited a connection with Salford's supporters as being key to the new deal.[33]
He made his international debut for Gambia in 2015.[14] Touray is eligible for Gambia through his father, who moved to England aged 16.[34] In a 2021 interview, Touray said that his proudest moment in international football was when Gambia drew 1–1 with Algeria, who at the time were unbeaten in over two years.[34]
He played in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, his national team's first continental tournament, where they made the quarter-final.[35][36]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Chester | 2014–15[37] | Football Conference | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
Rhyl | 2015–16[37] | Welsh Premier League | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||
Nantwich Town | 2016–17 | Northern Premier League Premier Division | No data | |||||||||
Salford City | 2017–18[37] | National League North | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
2018–19[37][38] | National League | 45 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 52 | 3 | ||
2019–20[39] | League Two | 35 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 42 | 5 | |
2020–21[40] | League Two | 46 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
2021–22[42] | League Two | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 1 | |
Total | 192 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 216 | 10 | ||
Career total | 240 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 267 | 12 |
Salford City
Individual
Toxteth-born former Everton Academy player Ibou Touray
Salford City F.C. – current squad | |
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Salford City F.C. Player of the Year | |
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2020–21 EFL League Two Team of the Season | |
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Gambia squad – 2021 Africa Cup of Nations | ||
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