ABDOULAYE FAYE

Born: 26 February 1978, Dakar, Senegal
Former clubs: ASEC Ndiambour, ASC Jeanne d'Arc, RC Lens, Istres (loan), Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Stoke City

A powerful and experienced centre-back, Abdoulaye Faye joined West Ham United on a free transfer on 1 July 2011 following the expiry of his contract at Stoke City.

Capped more than 30 times by Senegal, Faye made his name in French football before initially moving to England with Sam Allardyce's Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 2005.

Respected for his committed approach and penchant for scoring important goals, Faye helped Stoke to reach the 2011 FA Cup final, having been voted Potters' Player of the Year in 2008/09.

2011/12

Joined West Ham United on a free transfer on 1 July 2011...Made his first West Ham United appearance in the 2-1 pre-season defeat by FC Basel in Switzerland on 13 July 2011...Made his West Ham United debut as a substitute in the 4-0 npower Championship win at Watford on 16 August 2011...Made his full West Ham United debut in the 0-0 npower Championship draw at Millwall on 17 September 2011...Totalled 29 appearances, all in the npower Championship, 25 of them starts.

International career

Capped 34 times by Senegal at senior level, scoring twice...Appeared for Senegal at the 2004, 2006 and 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations...Made his senior international debut for Senegal against Zimbabwe in January 2004...Scored for Senegal against Angola at the 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Before West Ham United

Played for Senegal-based ASEC Ndiambour and Jeanne d'Arc before moving to French football with RC Lens in 2002...Made his name with RC Lens and FC Istres in France before joining Bolton Wanderers, initially on loan, in July 2005...Spent two-and-a-half seasons with Bolton Wanderers, playing under manager Sam Allardyce, and making 70 first-team appearances...Appeared in the UEFA Cup for Bolton Wanderers...Twice scored the Premier League victories over Arsenal for Bolton Wanderers...Moved to Newcastle United in summer 2007, following manager Sam Allardyce to St James' Park...Featured 24 times during his single season at Newcastle United in 2007/08...Moved to Stoke City for £2.25m in summer 2008...Voted Stoke City's Player of the Year for 2008/09...Made Stoke City captain on a permanent basis at the start of the 2009/10 season...Helped Stoke City to reach the 2011 FA Cup final, but did not appear in the final itself.

Any other business

Full name is Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye.