Junior Diouf

Raymond Junior Devis Diouf (born 2007), commonly known as Junior Diouf, is a Senegalese footballer who plays for Beveren in the Challenger Pro League.

Prior to Beveren, Diouf played college soccer in the United States for Grand Canyon University. There, Diouf became the first freshman to win the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Year Award.

Career Youth and college Junior Diouf began playing soccer at age 10 with Rise Academy in Senegal, where he developed as an attacking player before later moving to the United States to continue his career.

Diouf attended St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, one of the top high school soccer programs in the country. During the 2024 season, he scored 26 goals and recorded 11 assists, helping Saint Benedict's finish with a perfect 20–0–0 record. The team won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public A state championship and the Essex County Tournament title, and finished the season ranked No. 1 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Fall Boys Team Rankings. Diouf scored the game-winning goal in the 1–0 victory in the Non-Public A title match and was named to the New Jersey All-State First Team.

Diouf began his collegiate career at Grand Canyon University in 2025.

His early collegiate performances included a brace in the season opener against Jacksonville, becoming the first Grand Canyon freshman to score two goals in a match since 2023. He later recorded a goal and an assist in a 3–1 win against Cleveland State, scored against Sacramento State, and converted a 90th-minute penalty against Santa Clara.

Following the season, Diouf received several national and conference honors. He was named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, becoming the first freshman finalist for the award, and was selected as the TopDrawer Soccer Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, the first freshman to win the outlet's player of the year honor. He was also named United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team.

At the conference level, Diouf was named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and WAC Freshman of the Year. He was also selected to the All-WAC First Team, All-WAC Freshman Team, and All-WAC Tournament Team. During the season, he earned multiple weekly honors, including WAC Offensive Player of the Week and selections to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week.

Professional Following the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Diouf was considered a potential top five pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. However, Diouf opted to forgo the SuperDraft and play in Europe. On 4 March 2026, Diouf joined Belgan side, S.K. Beveren on a two-and-a-half year contract, with a club option for a third year.

Honors and awards United Soccer Coaches D-I Men's First Team All-America - 2025 TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year: 2025 TopDrawerSoccer Freshman of the Year: 2025 WAC Offensive Player of the Year: 2025 WAC Freshman of the Year: 2025 All-WAC First Team: 2025 All-WAC Freshman Team: 2025 All-WAC Tournament Team: 2025