Paris Saint-Germain Judo

On 1 September 2017, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi announced the creation of Paris Saint-Germain Judo, the club's judo department. The press release was accompanied by the signing of French judoka and two-time Olympic champion Teddy Riner to spearhead the project.[1] The unveiling also saw the appointment of Djamel Bouras as club president, while Nicolas Mossion was named technical director, coach and performance manager of PSG Judo.[2][3][4] Julien Boussuge and Laurent Calléja were also signed as coaches.[5][6]

Judo at the club is not entirely new. The section existed already between 1992 and 2002 (now Paris Judo) with Olympic champions such as David Douillet and Djamel Bouras.[7] At first, this new version of PSG Judo was supposed to be composed of a male-only team of judokas of all ages.[1] Teddy Riner was the club's sole judoka during its first year. The other judokas contacted to join him in the new Parisian project were not convinced by the proposed contractual conditions: one-year fixed-term contracts, accompanied by unattractive salaries (less than 4,000 euros a month). Walide Khyar (European −60 kg champion), Benjamin Axus (French −73 kg champion) or Pape Ndiaye (French −81 kg champion) notably declined the proposal.[8]

As a result, the club's male-only approach changed.[8] In September 2018, a year after its launch, the club signed 14 judokas (nine men and five women) to compete alongside Teddy Riner, opened the Paris Saint-Germain Judo School, and inaugurated its Dojo, located in the CMG Sports Club One Italie complex at Porte d'Italie in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.[9] In December 2018, Julien Boussuge joined as coach, alongside Nicolas Mossion.[10]

PSG Judo started out with a squad composed of ten male judokas and five female judokas for a total of 15 judokas, including multiple world champion Teddy Riner.[9] The women's team was composed of Faïza Mokdar, Habi Magassa, Lalou Lebrun, Mélanie Vieu and Carla N’Zossi Elecka, while the men's team had Heydar Ouchen, Yhonice Goueffon, Joris Agbegnenou, Widdman Laudort, Hugo Metifiot, Eniel Caroly, Tanou Keïta, Christopher Mvuama, Israil Dakayev and the aforementioned Riner.[7][9][11]

In September 2019, the club welcomed Ophélie Vellozzi, Laura Espadinha, Juliette Diollot and Martha Fawaz to the women's squad, while Sina Sadroleslami, Antony Duporge, Ahmed-Yacoub Belkahla, Bilel Yousfi and Arnaud Aregba signed for the men's team.[12] Nabil Hachem, Amaury Assiga, Adam Tazabaev and Abdoullah Khadzhimuradov also joined the male squad in December 2019.[13] During the second half of 2020, the club announced the signatures of female judokas Clara Wentzler, Lou-Anne Brustel, Marie-Ève Gahié and Romane Dicko as well as those of male judokas Driss Masson Jbilou, Khamzat Saparbaev, Alpha Djalo, Vang-Si Nzaou, Benjamin Gomes, Hugo Tchorowski and Luca Otmane.[14][15][16][17][18][19]

PSG Judo further expanded its roster in 2021 with the signings of Amandine Buchard and Sanne Vermeer for the women's side alongside male counterparts Bastien Jenner, Denis Vieru and Davlat Bobonov.[20][21] The club also reinforced its technical staff with French coach Florent Urani.[22] These new additions were all part of the club's first two titles at the European Club Championships – Europa League in December 2021.[23][24] Made up of twenty athletes, including Buchard but also Romane Dicko, Teddy Riner and Luca Otmane, PSG Judo made their return to the European stage by claiming an historic double.[21][23] The club's male and female sides won their respective finals and clinched a spot in next year's Champions League.[25]

After opening its Judo school in September, PSG Judo president Djamel Bouras, club star Teddy Riner and several representatives of Paris Saint-Germain's other sporting sections came together in the 13th arrondissement of Paris to inaugurate the Dojo of the club's Judo section, where young judokas had been training since 2018.[7][11]

PSG male footballers Kylian Mbappé, Layvin Kurzawa and Maxwell, PSG female footballers Laure Boulleau and Ashley Lawrence, PSG handballers Bruno Martini and Daniel Narcisse, and PSG esport players "DaXe" and "Ferra" were amongst those present in the inauguration ceremony.[11]

The home of PSG's fifth sport section is located in a dedicated part of the CMG Sports Club One Italie complex. Decorated in club colours, the 180m² Dojo at the Porte d'Italie houses the Paris Saint-Germain Judo School as well as high level training facilities for Teddy Riner and the 14 other judokas.[11] The school is open to all age categories, from 4 years old to adults, and is managed by PSG Judo technical director Nicolas Mossion.[3][9][26]

The Paris Saint-Germain Training Center, located in Poissy, Paris Region, will be PSG Judo's new training ground and sports complex.[27][28][29] Owned and financed by parent club Paris Saint-Germain, the venue will bring together its male football, handball and judo teams as well as the football and handball academies.[27][30] Each division will have its own dedicated facilities.[31] Construction began in February 2020 and is expected to end in June 2023.[32][33] The capital club will invest around €350m.[34]

• European Club Championships – Europa League (2):
  • PSG Judo Men's Team in 2021.[35]
  • PSG Judo Women's Team in 2021.[35]