Alex Song - Ten Fast Facts

Get to know more about new loan signing Alex Song with our ten fast facts
Get to know more about new loan signing Alex Song with our ten fast facts…

•    Alex’s hometown is Douala in Cameroon, where he was born on 9 September 1987. Douala is the most populous city in Cameroon, with 2.5m inhabitants. 

•    Alex’s route into professional football was via French club SC Bastia, who signed him as a professional at the age of 16.

•    His uncle, Rigobert Song, has been a guiding figure in Song’s career and he will be well known to Hammers fans, having played for the Club between 2000-02.

•    Song made an early impression during his Bastia days, playing 32 games in the French Ligue Un and earning a move to Arsenal, all before the age of 18.

•    Despite his tender years, he was involved in the Barclays Premier League straight away – making nine appearances in his debut Gunners season.

•    Still early in his career, Song gained further experience by heading out on loan to Charlton Athletic before returning to establish himself in the Arsenal side.

•    Twice a runner-up in the League Cup and once in the UEFA Champions League, Song left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2012, having played 138 league games and scored seven goals for the north Londoners.

•    That move to the Nou Camp brought with it the medals he craved, with his first season in Spain yielding a La Liga title. He then won the Supercopa de Espana that same summer.

•    West Ham United took him on loan for the first time last summer, with Song playing a starring role in the Club’s ascent to the top four of the table by Christmas.

•    Now retired from international football, Song has nevertheless enjoyed a fine career with his country, twice being named in the Africa Cup of Nations Best XI during his 49-cap stint with the Indomitable Lions.