Player Details

Name

Dénis 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
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)