Dayot Upamecano grew up in Évreux, Normandy, and came through Valenciennes’ academy before moving to Red Bull Salzburg as a teenager in 2015. He joined RB Leipzig in 2017 and helped them reach the 2020 Champions League semi-finals.
Bayern Munich signed him in 2021, and he has won several Bundesliga titles. He is fast, strong and comfortable on the ball, and he is a key part of Bayern’s defence.
Upamecano has been capped by France and played at the 2022 World Cup.
Playing style
Upamecano is a fast, powerful centre-back who is strong in the tackle and good in the air. He likes to step out of the defensive line to win the ball early, and he is comfortable carrying it forward into midfield. His athleticism allows Bayern to defend with a high line. He has had periods of inconsistency, with occasional costly errors, but at his best he is one of the most dominant defenders in the Bundesliga. His development at Salzburg and Leipzig, both clubs known for intense pressing, shaped his aggressive style.
International career
Upamecano made his France debut in 2020 and played at the 2022 World Cup, where France reached the final, starting several matches including the final. He has been a regular in the squad since.
Career in numbers
Upamecano’s senior club career, which began in 2015/16, has so far brought 392 appearances and 12 goals for 4 clubs. The 2017/18 season, with 3 goals from 41 matches for RB Leipzig, remains his highest tally. His busiest campaign was 2022/23, with 43 appearances. So far in 2026/27 he has 1 goal in 5 appearances for Bayern Munich. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.