The volatile career of a footballing icon: from Champions League to a medical ban
In short: Serge Aurier’s footballing journey is defined by extreme highs and sudden, dramatic lows. A decorated winner of 11 major trophies with Paris Saint-Germain, his career has been equally marked by disciplinary suspensions, legal convictions, and a sudden, career-altering medical diagnosis.
Serge Aurier’s professional ascent was rapid. After joining the Lens academy as a child, he signed his first professional contract in June 2009. His talent led to a €1.5 million transfer to Toulouse in 2012, and eventually a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2014. At PSG, he secured 11 major trophies and earned recognition in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. His international career with the Ivory Coast has been equally significant, earning over 90 caps and captaining the side since 2017, including victories in the 2015 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, his career has been frequently interrupted by controversy. In 2016, Aurier faced a UEFA suspension after using derogatory language toward a referee. Later that year, he was suspended by PSG after using a homophobic slur toward manager Laurent Blanc. His legal troubles extended to a conviction for assaulting a police officer in Paris, which led to the revocation of his UK visa in late 2016. He was only able to join Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 after his suspended sentence was converted into a fine.
The latter stages of his career have seen a series of rapid transitions through clubs like Villarreal, Nottingham Forest, and Galatasaray. Most recently, his time with the Iranian club Persepolis ended in 2025 following a medical test that revealed he had tested positive for Hepatitis B, resulting in a ban from all football-related activities by the Iranian Football Federation.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Serge Aurier
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