Saël Kumbedi Called up to France Squad to Replace Pierre Kalulu

Saël Kumbedi Joins Les Bleus

Saël Kumbedi received a call-up to the France senior national team on Monday, replacing Pierre Kalulu in the squad as Zinédine Zidane looks to address issues at the fullback position.

Eurosport reported the squad adjustment, highlighting the rapid ascent of a 21-year-old defender whose club career has taken him from Ligue 2 to the Bundesliga.

Early Development at Le Havre

Kumbedi began his formative years with Le Havre, where reserve team coach Michaël Lebaillif first integrated him into the National 3 setup while the player was still in the under-17 age group.

Lebaillif recalled an exemplary work ethic, strong athletic foundations, and the versatility to play on either flank despite standing just 1.75 meters tall. C’est un super garçon, Lebaillif told Eurosport, pointing to the player’s quick acceleration and strength in duels.

That promise translated to the international stage when Kumbedi captained France to victory at the European Championship with the U17. He scored twice in the 2-1 final against the Netherlands, establishing a reputation before making his senior club breakthrough.

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Kumbedi Transferred to Lyon After Ligue 2 Exposure

Following brief professional exposure in Ligue 2 with Le Havre, Kumbedi transferred to Olympique Lyonnais for a reported fee of 1 million euros at age 18. He made 62 appearances for Lyon during a period of frequent managerial and institutional changes over three to four seasons.

Lebaillif acknowledged that the move to Lyon came earlier than expected in the player’s development but argued that Kumbedi ultimately succeeded in meeting the challenge. Il a aussi été le capitaine de l’équipe de France qui a gagné le championnat d’Europe, Lebaillif told Eurosport that the defender's maturity helped him handle the pressure of top-flight football at a young age.

Saël Kumbedi (Wolfsbourg) rejoint le groupe, en remplacement de Pierre Kalulu (lésion aux ischios du membre inférieur gauche) pic.twitter.com/JjWVxF6sDI

— Post by @equipedefrance on X

German Relegation and International Integration

Kumbedi subsequently moved to Germany, signing with VfL Wolfsburg while the club was competing in the Bundesliga, where they finished 11th in 2025 before suffering relegation to the second division. While some analysts questioned the logic of calling up a player from Germany’s second tier, supporters of the selection point to his 24 Bundesliga appearances and extensive youth international pedigree.

Zidane and his technical staff indicated that the right-back position remains an area of active evaluation for the national team.