Kevin Gameiro French footballer, striker Date of Birth: 09.05.1987 Country: France

1. Early Life and Career Beginnings
2. Debut and Early Senior Career at Strasbourg
3. Rise at Lorient
4. Move to Paris Saint-Germain
5. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid Stints
6. Valencia and International Career

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Kevin Gameiro, a French forward, was born in the commune of Senlis, Oise, France. His Portuguese surname originates from his father's side, who emigrated from Portugal. Gameiro's footballing journey commenced at the age of eight with AS Marly-la-Ville before joining Chantilly at 13. His talent caught the attention of a Strasbourg scout, and in 2002, he became part of the club's youth academy.

Debut and Early Senior Career at Strasbourg

Gameiro's impressive performances in Strasbourg's system earned him his debut with the first team on September 10, 2005. He came off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain, but Strasbourg lost 1-0. On February 4, 2006, Gameiro scored his first Ligue 1 goal against Lens, although the team still fell short, losing 2-1. In the UEFA Cup, Gameiro netted two goals in his debut against Crvena Zvezda on December 14, 2005. Despite his contributions, Strasbourg was relegated to Ligue 2 for the 2005/06 season, where Gameiro played 16 games and scored three goals, aiding their return to the top flight.

Rise at Lorient

In 2008, Gameiro joined Lorient and immediately made an impact. He scored 11 goals in his first Ligue 1 season, helping his new club achieve its then-highest league finish of 10th place. The 2009/10 campaign was even more successful for Lorient, who finished seventh. Gameiro emerged as a prolific scorer, becoming the second-highest goalscorer in the league with 17 goals, just one behind Mamadou Niang of Marseille. Gameiro's goals played a crucial role in Lorient's upset of Lyon in the Coupe de la Ligue and their 3-0 victory over PSG at the Parc des Princes in the 23rd round. On February 19, he scored a hat-trick against Bordeaux, contributing to a 5-1 victory.

Move to Paris Saint-Germain

On June 12, 2011, Gameiro transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of €10 million on a four-year contract. He scored his first goal for the club against Rennes in the second round of the 2011/12 season. On October 16, 2011, he netted a hat-trick in a 4-1 away win over Ajaccio, his second career hat-trick and his first for PSG.

Sevilla and Atletico Madrid Stints

In July 2013, Gameiro moved to Sevilla, signing a five-year contract. He scored 22 goals in 54 appearances for the Spanish club. In 2016, Gameiro transferred to Atletico Madrid for €32 million. Over two seasons, he scored 27 goals but only started 11 games.

Valencia and International Career

In July 2018, Gameiro signed for Valencia for €16 million plus bonuses. He represented France at various youth levels before making his debut for the senior team in 2010.