Aaron Boupendza

Aaron Salem Boupendza Pozzi (born 7 August 1996) is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati and the Gabon national team.

Formed at CF Mounana, where he won the Gabon Championnat National D1 in 2015–16, he signed for Bordeaux in 2016. He played only for the reserve team and out on loan, finishing as top scorer of the Championnat National for Pau in 2017–18. In 2020 he signed for Hatayspor, and was top scorer in the Süper Lig in 2020–21. He then had one season each with Al Arabi of the Qatar Stars League and Al Shabab of the Saudi Pro League, winning a Qatar FA Cup with the former in 2022.

A full international for Gabon since 2016, Boupendza represented the country at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Bordeaux
Born in Moanda, Boupendza came through the youth ranks of CF Mounana, where he won the Gabon Championnat National D1 in 2015–16. He had a trial at Tours FC of the French Ligue 2 in February 2016.

In August 2016, Boupendza signed for Ligue 1 side FC Girondins de Bordeaux to play for the club's reserve team in fifth-tier Championnat National 3. A year later, he joined Championnat National side Pau FC on loan. He was the top scorer of the 2017–18 Championnat National with 15 goals.

Boupendza signed a new contract in July 2018 to keep himself at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux until 2021, while also being loaned out to Gazélec Ajaccio of Ligue 2. On 9 December, his loan was terminated by mutual agreement of both clubs, after he did not score in 11 total appearances. He was then loaned to Tours in the division below.

In July 2019, Boupendza was loaned to C.D. Feirense in the Portuguese LigaPro. Having not scored in 11 total matches for Filó's team, his contract was rescinded in March for refusing to join the reserve team.

Hatayspor
In August 2020, after being released by Bordeaux, Boupendza signed a two-year deal at Hatayspor, newly promoted to the Turkish Süper Lig. He was the top scorer in his first season with 22 goals in 36 games as the team from Antakya came sixth; teammate Mame Biram Diouf was second with 19 goals. He scored four times on 29 December in a 6–0 win at Antalyaspor, and twice on 10 January 2021 in a 2–2 draw with eventual winners Beşiktaş J.K. at the Antakya Atatürk Stadyumu.

Middle East
In August 2021, Boupendza joined Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi SC for €4.5 million. On 8 May 2022, he scored after three minutes in a 3–2 win over Lusail SC to lift the Qatar FA Cup.

Boupendza signed a three-year deal at Al Shabab FC of the Saudi Pro League in August 2022. He scored 11 goals in 17 games in his one league season in Riyadh, including four on 31 May as the campaign concluded with a 4–1 win at Damac FC.

FC Cincinnati
In June 2023, Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati announced they had signed Boupendza from Al-Shabab on a transfer, with the striker signing a Designated Player deal through 2025, with options for 2026 and 2027. He arrived after the club had sold leading striker Brenner to Udinese Calcio. His five regular-season goals helped the team win the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield, and on 4 November he equalised in a 1–1 draw away to the New York Red Bulls before netting in a penalty shootout win in the first round of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

International career
Boupendza was first called up for Gabon in January 2016 for the African Nations Championship. He made his debut on 10 January in a 1–1 friendly draw away to Uganda, and scored his first goal as consolation in a 2–1 loss to hosts Rwanda in the group stage.

Boupendza was called up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where he scored the only goal of the opening group win against the Comoros, who were making their tournament debut. In the last 16 against Burkina Faso, he netted his attempt in a penalty shootout defeat.

International

 * Scores and results list Gabon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boupendza goal.

Honours
CF Mounana
 * Gabon Championnat National D1: 2015–16

Al-Arabi
 * Qatar FA Cup: 2022

FC Cincinnati
 * Supporters' Shield: 2023

Individual
 * Süper Lig Golden Boot: 2020–21
 * Süper Lig Team of the Season: 2020–21