Lassine Sinayoko: AJA’s Unexpected Assist Wizard This Season

Before arriving at AJA, the attacker spent time with Cosmo Taverny and Entente SSG in their youth systems. He joined the B squad at Auxerre in 2017 and eventually cracked the first team in 2021.

Despite AJA signing Sinayoko, the Mali international was on the club’s radar, as he told Onze Mundial in a December 2024 interview, as he had several tryouts to enter their youth academy.

“I arrived in November 2017, right in the middle of the season. Before that, I had trials with the U14s, U15s, U17s, and U19s. I had already been to Auxerre four times—it never worked out. Every time I went there, I got a little nervous. During each trial, I was tense, I wasn’t playing freely, I wasn’t playing my football.”

Sinayoko was part of an AJA squad relegated from Ligue 1 McDonald’s after the 2022-23 season. However, it was a one-and-done season in Ligue 2 BKT for Auxerre as they won the league due to players like Sinayoko, who recorded eight goals and five assists in France’s second division.

The AJA attacker showed that he could score in Ligue 2 BKT, but the question was whether he could translate that production to France’s top flight. While his goal-scoring has taken a dip, his assist numbers (8) are up, as he has an opportunity to finish with 10 assists if he can secure two more in Auxurre’s final three matches of the season.

Sinayoko and his teammates are looking to end the 2024-25 season on a positive note, build momentum into 2025-26, and do more than just be a midtable side. The AJA standout has recorded four goal contributions in his last three matches, including three assists last weekend against RC Lens.

One reason Auxerre is staying away from the relegation zone is their results against teams at the top of the Ligue 1 McDonald’s table. AJA have defeated second-place side Olympique de Marseille twice this season, with Sinayoko recording one goal and two assists in the two matches against OM.

In January, Sinayoko noted that playing and gaining positive results against these top clubs has fueled his and AJA’s impressive season.

“What really gives us a lot of confidence is that we’ve gotten good results against big teams. Once you’ve beaten Marseille or drawn with Paris Saint-Germain, you feel capable of anything. But against the big teams, maybe there’s also a little extra spirit.”

Whether it’s OM or RC Lens, Sinayoko has shown he is at the heart of AJA’s attack this season. After a successful return to Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Sinayoko will be counted on to help the squad take the next step, which will be to challenge for a European competition.  

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