Moctar Diop
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 January 2005 | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Gent | ||
| Number | 33 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | Espoirs de Guediewaye | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Aalesund II | 16 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Aalesund | 22 | (3) |
| 2024–2026 | Lillestrøm | 28 | (5) |
| 2025 | Lillestrøm II | 3 | (0) |
| 2026– | Gent | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 March 2026 | |||
Moctar Diop (born 6 January 2005) is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a striker for Belgian Pro League club Gent.
Career
Hailing from Saint-Louis, Senegal, he attended the Espoirs de Guediewaye academy. He was also discovered by Senegal U20 before he travelled to Europe. The Norwegian Eliteserien club Aalesunds FK invited him on trial in March 2023 following a tip within their scouting network. The club was impressed ad almost immediately signed Diop, on a contract ranging throughout 2026. Standing at 1.93 metres, he is a "power forward" with emphasis on speed and physical play.[1]
Diop's two Eliteserien goals for Aalesund both came in large losses; 1–4 and 1–6.[2] Aalesund were relegated from the 2023 Eliteserien, and after Kjetil Rekdal took over as manager, Diop was seldomly selected to play.[3] Still, he was considered as a transfer object by Eliteserien clubs, with Molde FK reportedly being interested, along with Lillestrøm SK.[4][5][6] Despite Lillestrøm facing possible relegation from the 2024 Eliteserien, they were able to buy Diop on a contract lasting until the end of 2028.[7] According to Diop, he was advised by Akor Adams to choose Lillestrøm.[8]
Diop scored 5 goals in the 2025 Norwegian First Division which Lillestrøm won.[2] He also impressed in the 2025 Norwegian Football Cup. He scored his first hat-trick against Skjetten.[9] In the quarter-final, he scored against KFUM to put Lillestrøm through again.[10]
On 23 January 2026, Diop signed with Belgian club KAA Gent.[11]
Career statistics
- As of match played 1 March 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aalesund II | 2023 | Norwegian Second Division | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2024 | Norwegian Third Division | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | |||||
| Aalesund | 2023 | Eliteserien | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||
| 2024 | Norwegian First Division | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||||
| Lillestrøm | 2024 | Eliteserien | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | Eliteserien | 22 | 5 | 10 | 5 | — | — | 32 | 10 | |||
| Total | 28 | 5 | 11 | 5 | — | — | 39 | 10 | ||||
| Lillestrøm II | 2025 | Norwegian Third Division | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Gent | 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 72 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 15 | ||
Honours
Norwegian First Division: 2025
References
- ^ "Moctar har signert" (in Norwegian). Aalesunds FK. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ a b Moctar Diop at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
- ^ With, Stian (12 August 2024). "Reagerer kraftig". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ Hjelvik, Eirik Nesset (13 February 2024). "TV 2 erfarer: Molde gir LSK kamp om Aalesund-talent" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Svarer på Molde-rykter: – En stor klubb". Romsdals Budstikke (in Norwegian). 16 February 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ de Wahl, Stian André (22 December 2023). "Norsk fotball i kulissene: Spissen som er aktuell for LSK". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Lillestrøm kjøpte spiss fra AaFK" (in Norwegian). NRK. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Fikk LSK-råd fra Adams: – Han sa jeg burde dra hit hvis jeg fikk muligheten". Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). 1 September 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "LSKs hat trick-helt: – Folk sier at jeg header hardere enn jeg skyter". Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). 14 April 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Lillestrøm til semifinale i cupen – Moesgaard slaktet egne valg og spillere". Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). NTB. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Moctar Diop tekent voor Gent" (in Dutch). KAA Gent. 23 January 2026.