Souleymane Doukara

Souleymane Doukara (born 29 September 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker or a winger for Cypriot club Mağusa Türk Gücü.

He is nicknamed Dudu or The Duke.

Born in France, he plays for the Mauritania national team.

Doukara was born in Meudon, Hauts-de-Seine.

He started his professional career during the 2008–09 season, playing for Rovigo Calcio in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.

Making his first team debut at the age of 16 he played seven games that season, without scoring goals.

Doukara was scouted by A.C. Milan who had an option to sign him from Rovigo, he even played for Milan's's youth team on a trial spell during a youth tournament in Milan, but the club decided against signing him.

His club participated in the 2009–10 Serie D season and Doukara had his first chance to play as a regular starter; at the end of the championship he had made 36 appearances.

His form earned him a trial spell at Grasshopper Club Zürich in the Swiss Super League but he was unable to earn a contract.

Prior to the 2011–12 Lega Pro season, Doukara was transferred to Seconda Divisione club Vibonese, in which he played 37 out of 42 league matches, scoring 13 goals.

After impressing scouts in the Italian fourth tier, Doukara officially signed with Serie A outfit, Calcio Catania.

He made his Serie A debut on 16 September 2012, when he came on as a substitute for Alejandro Gómez against Fiorentina in a 2–0 loss after goals from Luca Toni and Stevan Jovetić.

Doukara primarily served as a back-up to Argentine international's Gonzalo Bergessio and Maxi López, though he made 12 Serie A appearances in his maiden top flight season.

Additionally, he made two Coppa Italia appearances that season in Catania's quarter-final run.

Doukara failed to score for the Sicilian outfit in his debut season at the club.

On 1 September 2013, Doukara played in the 3–0 defeat of Catania by Serie A side Internazionale.

On 2 September, the last day of the transfer window, Doukara joined Serie B side Juve Stabia on loan.

Subsequently, he scored six goals in 20 games during the 2013–14 season.

However this wasn't enough to keep Juve Stabia in the division as they were relegated, finishing bottom.

On 11 July 2014, it was confirmed by Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino that the club would sign him on season-long loan with the option for a permanent deal.

On 12 July, Doukara's signing to Leeds was confirmed on the club's official Twitter page.

On 1 August, Doukara was assigned the Leeds number 29 shirt for the 2014–15 season.

Doukara made his debut for Leeds on 9 August against Millwall.

Doukara's first goal for Leeds United came on 12 August 2014, in a League Cup match against Accrington Stanley with fellow newcomer Gaetano Berardi getting the assist.

He scored his second less than twenty minutes later to make it 2–0 to the home side.

However, on 16 August, Doukara tore his ankle ligaments in the 1–0 victory over Middlesbrough.

The injury would rule him out for 4–5 weeks.

On 1 September 2014, Doukara's loan deal was made permanent, signing a three-year deal at the club.

On 16 September 2014 he scored his first league goal for Leeds and his third in all competitions against Bournemouth in a 3–1 win.

On 20 September, Doukara scored his fourth goal of the season and his first league goal at Elland Road in a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town.

Doukara scored his 5th goal of the season in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City, with teammate Adryan providing an assist.

The same game saw him pick up a suspension for receiving his 5th yellow card of the season.

Doukara returned from suspension and scored his 6th goal of the season against Blackpool in a 3–1 win on 8 November.

On 18 April 2015, Doukara was one of six Massimo Cellino signings (including Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Marco Silvestri, Dario Del Fabro and Edgar Çani) who controversially pulled out of the squad with an 'injury' the day before a 2–1 loss against Charlton Athletic.

On 2 May 2015, Doukara's strike against Blackpool was nominated for Leeds United's goal of the season at the end of the 2014–15 season awards ceremony, but lost out to eventual winner Rudy Austin's goal against Watford.

On 31 July 2015, Doukara was given the number 11 shirt for the upcoming 2015–16 season.

He scored against Rotherham United on 9 January 2016 in a 2–0 win to help Leeds advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

He scored his fourth goal in five games in a 2–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup on 30 January.

On 31 March 2016, Doukara was banned for eight matches after biting Fernando Amorebieta during Leeds' home game with Fulham on 23 February 2016.

After being banned for eight matches, Doukara returned to the Leeds squad upon the expiry of his ban in the final game of the season in Leeds' 1–1 draw against Preston North End.