Nicolas Julio Nkoulou Ndoubena (born 27 March 1990), known as Nicolas Nkoulou, is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Turkish Süper Lig club Gaziantep and the Cameroon national team.
Nkoulou began his career in the French league with Monaco, where he spent three years before signing for Marseille in 2011. With Marseille, he won his first senior trophy, the Coupe de la Ligue in the 2011–12 season. In 2016, he left Marseille for Lyon, but after a disappointing year he left to join Italian club Torino, initially on loan but later on a permanent basis. Though initially impressing, he fell out of favour, and left the club in 2021, before signing for English club Watford
Internationally, Nkoulou played 75 times for Cameroon between 2008 and 2017, and decided to retire shortly after winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring the equalising goal in the final. He represented Cameroon in two World Cups and three Africa Cup of Nations. In September 2022, he was called up to the national team for the first time after 5 years.
Club career
Monaco
Nkoulou began his career at Kadji Sports Academy in Douala, the same academy that produced the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Carlos Kameni, and Eric Djemba-Djemba. In late 2007, it was announced that he was acquired by the principality-based side AS Monaco. He agreed to a three-year professional contract with the club. He spent the latter portion of the 2007–08 season playing with Monaco's CFA squad, before joining the squad for preseason in July 2008, where he was handed the number 3 kit.
Nkoulou made two appearances during the pre-season starting their opening friendly match against fellow Ligue 1 side Toulouse and also starting against Croatian side NK Zagreb. He made his professional debut on 13 September 2008 in a 2–0 victory over Lorient starting the match before being substituted in the 65th minute. Though he made 24 appearances in the 2008–09 season,
The 2009–10 season saw Nkoulou to play in defensive midfielder for the most of the season under the new management of Guy Lacombe and newly signing, Sébastien Puygrenier. As the 2009–10 season progressed, Nkoulou signed a new contract with the club, keeping him until 2012 and was then reverted to central defence. NKoulou also played in the Coupe de France Final, coming on as a substitute for Eduardo Costa in the 111th minute, in a 1–0 loss against PSG and went on to make 23 appearances in the 2009–10 season despite being committed to the African Cup of Nation.
In the 2010–11 season, Nkoulou found himself in the transfer speculation and ended up staying at the club despite fallen out with Lacombe. Nkoulou continued remain in the first team, playing in the defensive midfielder position for the most of the season and central defence. Despite suffering from injuries and suspension, Nkoulou finished the 2010–11 season, making 30 appearances. However, following their relegation to Ligue 2, Nkoulou was among key players to be expected to leave the club.
His performances with Monaco have led to him being scouted by several prominent European clubs. English club Arsenal, Spanish sides Sevilla and Atlético Madrid and French champions Olympique Lyonnais have all declared their interests in the Cameroonian defender. During his time at AS Monaco, Nkoulou made 78 appearances and has started every match since playing the full 90 minutes in them all. He has yet to score a goal.
Marseille
On 29 June 2011, Nkoulou passed his medical and signed for four years with Marseille for €3.5 million. Marseille and Lyon found themselves competing over their interest signing Nkoulou before he chose Marseille.