Forgotten Charlton hat-trick hero and ex Arsenal star transfers to lowly Chinese club

A forgotten ex Arsenal star once hailed as the 'next Thierry Henry' has joined Chinese second division side Quingdao Red Lions in the latest step of his journeyman career in the sport.

The 31-year-old joined the Gunners from Auxerre in 2013, when he was just 20 years old. Sanogo had plundered home 10 goals in 13 Ligue 2 appearances the season prior and arrived with a lot of expectation on his shoulders.

The Frenchman ultimately failed to live up to the hype at the Emirates and mustered just 20 Arsenal appearances and one goal over four years on the books. That time included loans out to Crystal Palace, Ajax and Charlton Athletic, before he was released by the North London club and joined Toulouse on a free deal.

Sanogo last played in England for Huddersfield Town in 2021 but is largely a forgotten figure despite his many years in the country. The player is likely best remembered by Addicks supporters from his eight appearances with the side in 2016 - Sanogo made just three starts for Charlton but scored all his three goals in a hat-trick against Reading in a 4-3 loss back in February 2016.

Sanogo had been playing with Armenian side Urartu over the past 12 months but saw his contract terminated prematurely by 'mutual agreement' in January. This week, it was announced that the player had joined Quingdao Red Lions in China's second division.

Reflecting on his time at Arsenal while at Huddersfield, Sanogo told Yorkshire Live: "When I was very young, at 17, I broke my leg. Some defender kicked my leg and it stunted my progression. After two years out I started playing and scoring again and went to Arsenal, but you know, in the head, that situation was hard.

"When I had the surgery the doctor who did it said to me ‘you need to stop [playing] football because of the state of your leg’. He said it would be hard to come back and play at a high level. When I came back I signed for Arsenal because I believed in myself, but the doctor said to me it was very serious because when you get injured at that age it’s very hard.

"I don’t know if anybody knows about these injuries [in England] because it was in France and I never explained it to anybody. I still look for their [Arsenal's] results every week. I don’t know many of the current squad. Most of the ones I played with have left I think. I know Hector Bellerin, and then after that it’s young players like Nketiah and Willock – they were young when I was there."