Denis Bouanga

Nîmes and Saint-Étienne

In July 2018, Bouanga joined Nîmes in Ligue 1 on a three-year contract for a reported transfer fee of €3 million. A year later, having scored eight goals in his one season at Nîmes, he joined Saint-Étienne for €4.5 million on a four-year deal.

Bouanga scored 10 goals in 26 games in his first league season for ASSE, which was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also helped them to the Coupe de France final by scoring the only goal away to Monaco in the last 16, and one more goal in a 2–1 win in the next round at Épinal.

In Bouanga's final game for Saint-Étienne, a 2–1 loss to Dijon on the first day of the 2022–23 Ligue 2 season, he was sent off at the end for insulting the referee.

Los Angeles FC

On 5 August 2022, Bouanga was acquired by Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer for a $5 million fee. On 2 October, he scored the match-winning goal in the 95th minute against Portland Timbers to win 2–1, clinching LAFC's second Supporters' Shield and his first trophy with the club. Eighteen days later, he netted twice in a 3–2 win at home to LA Galaxy in the Western Conference semi-finals of the MLS Cup playoffs. On 5 November, his team won MLS Cup 2022 by beating Philadelphia Union 3–0 on penalties after a 3–3 extra-time draw; he was among the penalty scorers.

In 2023, after scoring twice and tallying one assist in the club's 4–0 victory over New England Revolution, Bouanga was named to the league's Team of the Matchday for week three. On 9 March 2023, Bouanga scored his first hat-trick of his career with a 3–0 victory at L.D. Alajuelense during the first leg in the two club's Round of 16 showdown in the CONCACAF Champions League. Just under a month later on 8 April 2023, Bouanga scored his second hat-trick of his career in a 3–0 win at home over Austin FC. In 2023, he was the most prolific African goalscorer in top tier matches with 40 goals, including 38 for Los Angeles, finishing ahead of Mohamed Salah (36). In the following year, however, he finished joint-third with 30 goals, only behind Salah (33) and Ayoub El Kaabi (41). On 21 September 2025 Bouanga earned is second hat trick in three matches after a 4–1 defeat of Real Salt Lake. As of September 2025, Bouanga is tied with Lionel Messi for goals scored in the MLS.

On 31 May 2025, he scored an extra-time goal in a 2–1 play-off victory over Club América, securing his club's participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. During the tournament, he scored only goal, in a 1–1 draw with Brazilian side Flamengo, becoming the first-ever Gabonese goalscorer in the history of the Club World Cup. On 18 September 2025, Bouanga passed Carlos Vela's record and became the top goal scorer for LAFC following their 4–1 win at Real Salt Lake.

International career

Bouanga first received a call-up to the Gabon national team for a match against Mauritania on 28 May 2016. He made the final squad for Gabon for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

In January 2017, he was selected by Gabonese coach José Antonio Camacho to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Gabon during which he took part in all the matches of his selection in the competition. Even though Gabon failed to pass the group stage, Bouanga's fine performances did not go unappreciated, as he won two consecutive "Total Man of the Match" trophies for his performances against Burkina Faso and Cameroon.

Bouanga scored his first international goal for Gabon in a friendly match on 24 March 2017 against Guinea.

On 3 September 2025, Bouanga scored a first half hat-trick for Gabon in a 4–0 win over Seychelles to help bring the team to the top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group. In the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon finished bottom of their group without earning a single point. The Gabonese sports ministry reacted to the national team's performance in the tournament by suspending the national team indefinitely and banning Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. During the tournament, Bouanga scored one goal as Gabon tried and failed to come back against the Ivory Coast in the final group stage match, ultimately losing 3–2.

Personal life Bouanga was born in France to a Gabonese father and a French mother. His brother Didier is also a footballer.

Career statistics Club

International

Los Angeles FC MLS Cup: 2022 CONCACAF Champions League runner-up: 2023 Leagues Cup runner-up: 2024

Gabon King's Cup third place: 2018

Individual CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot: 2023 CONCACAF Champions League Best XI: 2023 MLS All-Star: 2023, 2024, 2025 MLS Best XI: 2023, 2024, 2025 MLS Golden Boot: 2023 MLS Player of the Month: October 2023, September 2025