Born: 3 September 1987, Bamako, Mali
Former clubs: AS Bamako, Stade Malien, Raja Casablanca, Le Mans UC72, FC Sochaux-Montbeliard

Blessed with pace and strength, Modibo Maiga became one of the most-feared forwards in French football during five years with Le Mans UC72 and FC Sochaux-Montbeliard.

The Bamako-born player joined West Ham United on a four-year contract with an option for a further two years in July 2012.

A regular for his country, Maiga has appeared at the 2010 and 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals.

2012/13

Joined West Ham United on a four-year contract with an option for a further two years on 17 July 2012...Made his West Ham United debut as a substitute in the 1-0 Barclays Premier League home win over Aston Villa on 18 August 2012...Made his maiden West Ham United start in the 2-0 home Capital One Cup second-round win over Crewe Alexandra on 28 August 2012, scoring the Hammers' second goal...Scored on his second West Ham United start in the 4-1 home Capital One Cup third-round defeat by Wigan Athletic on 25 September 2012...Netted his maiden Barclays Premier League goal in the 4-1 home victory over Southampton on 20 October 2012...Scored West Ham United's third goal minutes after appearing as a substitute in the 3-1 Barclays Premier League home win over Chelsea on 1 December 2012.

International career

Featured regularly for Mali at age-group level, appearing against England in the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup Under-18 tournament in Egypt in 2003...Appeared at the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, but contracted malaria while participating in the competition and was hospitalised and had to miss the 1-0 semi-final defeat by Cote d'Ivoire...Scored in both legs as Mali defeated Botswana on 7-1 aggregate to reach the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations...Appeared four times as Mali finished third at the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa in January/February 2013.

Before West Ham United

Began his career with Stade Malien in his homeland at the age of 15 in 2003, but his undoubted talent and potential saw him snapped up by leading Moroccan club Raja Casablanca the following year...Won the Moroccan League and Arab Champions League with Raja Casablanca...Joined French Ligue 1 side Le Mans UC72 in 2007, where he played alongside Arsenal forward Gervinho and Sunderland attacking midfielder Stephane Sessegnon...Netted 15 goals in 88 league appearances for Le Mans before moving to Sochaux, where he quickly struck up a potent partnership with Nigerian Ideye Brown...Scored 16 goals in his first season with Les Lionceaux, helping the club to finish fifth in Ligue 1 in 2010/11 and qualify for the UEFA Europa League...Scored nine times in 23 league appearances as Sochaux finished 14th in 2011/12, while he also made his debut in European competition.

Any other business

Became the second Malian to represent West Ham United after fellow forward Frederic Kanoute.