Ismail Jakobs

Ismail Joshua Jakobs (born 17 August 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Süper Lig club Galatasaray. Born in Germany, he plays for the Senegal national team.

Club career 1. FC Köln After starting his career at BC Bliesheim, Jakobs joined the youth academy of 1. FC Köln in 2012. In 2017, having progressed through all of the club's youth sides, he was introduced into Köln's U21 team competing in the fourth-tier Regionalliga West.

Ahead of the 2019–20 season Jakobs was promoted to the club's first team by then manager Achim Beierlorzer. On 8 November 2019, he made his debut appearance in a match against TSG Hoffenheim. On 18 December 2019, Jakobs scored his first goal as a professional in a 2–4 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. In March 2020, the club announced that Jakobs' contract had been extended until 2022. In October of the same year, he signed a further extension keeping him at Köln until July 2024.

AS Monaco On 12 July 2021, Jakobs was transferred to Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, where he signed a contract until 2026.

Galatasaray On 2 September 2024, Jakobs joined Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray on loan from Monaco, until the end of the 2024–25 season, with an obligation to buy after.

International career On 21 August 2020, Jakobs was nominated for Germany's under-21 national team by manager Stefan Kuntz. He was a member of the squad that won the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Jakobs was selected for Germany's squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics, however, following his transfer to Monaco, he pulled out at the club's request.

Jakobs made his debut for the Senegal senior national team in 2022, appearing against Bolivia on 24 September. He played in all four of Senegal's matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the nation reached the round of 16 for the first time since its debut in 2002.

In December 2023, he was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast.

On January 18, 2026, he won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, defeating Morocco 1–0 after extra time. Two months later, the title was withdrawn from Senegal and awarded to Morocco by forfeit. The CAF sanctioned the Senegalese team for leaving the pitch to protest a refereeing decision before returning a few minutes later.

On May 21, 2026, Jakobs was officially selected by Senegal's coach Pape Thiaw from his list of 28 players to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Personal life Born in Germany, Jakobs is Senegalese and French by his father. His mother is German, and he carries her surname. Jakobs holds Senegalese and French nationalities from his father.

International

Honours Galatasaray Süper Lig: 2024–25, 2025–26 Turkish Cup: 2024–25