Player Details

Name

Denis Bouanga

Pronunciation

Boo-Wan-Gha

Height

5' 11"

Weight

157 lbs

Date of Birth

11.11.1994 (30)

Birthplace

Le Mans, France

Position

Forward

Footedness

Left

Roster Category

Senior

Player Category

Designated Player, Designated Player
Latest
Latest
Career Summary

HIGHLIGHTS

  • MLS Cup Champion (2022) 
  • Supporters' Shield winner (2022)
  • MLS Western Conference Champion (2022, 2023)
  • CONCACAF Champions League runner-up (2023)
  • MLS Cup runner-up (2023)
  • MLS Golden Boot (2023)
  • MLS All Star (2023)
  • MLS MVP finalist (2023)
  • CONCACAF Champions League Best XI (2023)
  • CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot (2023)
  • in 2023, finished first among MLS players in goals in a calendar year (5th in the world) with 40 total goals for club and country
  • first MLS goal (at Portland 10/2/22) clinched the second Supporters’ Shield in LAFC history
  • third LAFC player to score multiple goals in a postseason game (10/20/22 vs.Galaxy)

PERSONAL

  • brother, Didier Bouanga, is also a pro footballer
  • Bouanga and his wife Maella have two children, Nakiya and Kaais
  • started his early football training with SO Maine's youth academy, near his hometown of Le Mans, France
Scouting Report

PROFESSIONAL

2023 (Los Angeles Football Club):

  • made 31 MLS regular-season appearances (28 starts), registering 20 goals and seven assists in 2,532 minutes played
  • named MLS Player of the Month for October; named Player of the Matchday for weeks 7 and 36; named to MLS Team of the Matchday for weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 32, & 37
  • named MLS Best XI, won 2023 MLS Golden Boot, and was one of three finalists for MLS MVP
  • became the third LAFC player to win MLS Golden Boot, joining Carlos Vela (2019) and Diego Rossi (2020)
  • made 48 appearances (44 starts) across all competitions, recording 38 goals and 14 assists 
  • his 38 goals in all competitions tied the MLS record for goals in a calendar year (Vela, 2019)
  • named to CONCACAF Champions League Best XI and MLS Best XI
  • recorded four hat tricks over three different competitions (MLS regular season [2], CONCACAF Champions League, Leagues Cup)
  • ranked third in goals scored (6) in the Leagues Cup tournament 

2022 (Los Angeles Football Club):

  • MLS Cup Champion and Supporters’ Shield winner in his first season with LAFC 
  • started 5 of 6 regular-season appearances (498 minutes played), adding three appearances in MLS postseason 
  • scored three goals in all competitions, including a brace 10/20/22 against Galaxy in Western Conference semifinal
  • recorded 13 total shots on target (eight in the regular season)
  • 74.8% pass-accuracy percentage 
  • scored his first MLS goal against Portland (10/2/22)
  • made MLS debut 8/31/22 at Houston, logging one shot in 19 minutes played

2019-22 (AS Saint Etienne – Ligue 1):

  • started 82 of 97 appearances, recording 26 goals and 14 assists in 7,287 minutes played 
  • made 110 appearances and registered 28 goals with 16 assists across all competitions
  • scored 10 goals in his first season with the club (2019-20)
  • appeared in 2019-20 Coupe de France final (runner-up)

2018 (Nimes Olympique – Ligue 1):

  • started 29 of his 35 appearances, logging 2,633 minutes
  • recorded 8 goals and two assists

2017-18 (FC Lorient – Ligue 2):

  • recorded 10 total goals and four assists in 38 appearances with the club

2016/17 (Tours FC – Ligue 2):

  • started 32 of 36 matches (2,882 minutes played)
  • posted a career-best 16 goals and added two assists

2015-16 (FC Lorient – Ligue 1)(RC Strasbourg Alsace – The National) (Lorient B – Ligue 2):

  • started three matches with FC Lorient before being loaned to RC Strasbourg Alsace
  • helped Strasbourg earn promotion to Ligue 2 
  • following U-19 play with FC Le Mans in 2013, was transferred to AS Mulsanne and then to Lorient B in 2014 

INTERNATIONAL

  • has represented Gabon 35 times on the international stage (34 starts)
  • scored in his national team debut in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (1-1 draw vs.Guinea)
  • has recorded 9 goals and 4 assists for Gabon across all competitions
  • scored a goal in both of Gabon's World Cup qualifying matches in Nov.2023 (vs.Burundi; vs.Kenya)