Julian Marc Jeanvier is a French-Guinean professional footballer born on March 31, 1992, in Clichy-sur-Seine. He plays as a central defender for Turkish club Kayserispor in the Süper Lig and represents the Guinean national team at the international level. Of Guinean and Guadeloupean descent, Jeanvier has had a diverse career, beginning in his hometown before moving through clubs such as Nancy, Lille, and Reims—where he made his breakthrough and won the Ligue 2 title—followed by stints with Brentford in England, Kasımpaşa in Turkey (on loan), and Auxerre. Known for his defensive solidity, he was twice named in the Ligue 2 Team of the Season (2016–2017 and 2017–2018) and has represented Guinea in the Africa Cup of Nations in both 2019 and 2023, playing a key role in their run to the quarter-finals in the latter edition.
Introduction
Julian Marc Jeanvier, born on March 31, 1992, in Clichy-sur-Seine, is a professional footballer who plays as a central defender. Currently under contract with Turkish club Kayserispor in the Süper Lig, he also represents the Guinean national team on the international stage. His career is a testament to resilience and determination, showcasing the journey of a player who has overcome numerous obstacles to establish himself at a high level.
Early Career in France
Julian began his football journey in 2000 with US Clichy-sur-Seine, his hometown club. His talent quickly caught attention, leading to a move to L'Entente SSG in 2006. At the same time, he was admitted to the prestigious Clairefontaine academy, renowned for nurturing top French football talent.
In 2008, a major step forward came with his admission to the AS Nancy-Lorraine academy. During this formative period, Jeanvier steadily rose through the ranks, eventually earning a place in the reserve team. Between 2009 and 2013, he made 54 appearances and scored two goals in the Championnat de France Amateur, showcasing both his defensive capabilities and natural leadership.
The 2012–2013 season marked a turning point in his career. With Patrick Gabriel, former head of the youth academy, appointed as first-team manager of Ligue 1 side Nancy, Jeanvier was promoted to the senior squad. Between January and April 2013, he made his first 10 top-flight appearances. Despite this breakthrough, he declined a two-year contract extension and left the club at the end of the season.
Lille and Developmental Loans
In the summer of 2013, Jeanvier signed a four-year deal with LOSC Lille. Unfortunately, his time there proved challenging. The arrival of coach René Girard, replacing Rudi Garcia shortly after Jeanvier’s signing, saw him fall down the pecking order behind Simon Kjær, Marko Baša, David Rozehnal, and Adama Soumaoro.
Consequently, Jeanvier was limited to reserve team appearances before being loaned out to Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz (2014–2015) and Red Star (2015–2016). Though away from Ligue 1's spotlight, these loan spells allowed him to gain valuable game time and sharpen his skills. In August 2016, he departed Lille without having made a single first-team appearance.
Breakthrough at Stade de Reims
Jeanvier revitalized his career by taking a step down to Ligue 2, signing with ambitious promotion-chasers Stade de Reims in August 2016. It proved to be a wise move, as he quickly established himself as a key figure in the team's defense.
His impressive performances earned him back-to-back selections in the Ligue 2 Team of the Year by the UNFP (National Union of Professional Footballers) in the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 seasons—an acknowledgment of his influence on the league.
The 2017–2018 campaign was particularly successful. As vice-captain, he played a pivotal role in Reims’ Ligue 2 title win and their return to Ligue 1. After two standout seasons, in which he made 67 appearances and scored five goals, Jeanvier left Stade Auguste-Delaune in July 2018 with a reputation as a complete and commanding defender.
English Adventure at Brentford
On July 30, 2018, Jeanvier crossed the English Channel to sign with Brentford, a Championship club, on a four-year deal with an optional fifth year. The transfer fee was undisclosed but estimated at £1.8 million.
His debut was promising—scoring in each of his first two EFL Cup matches. However, a foot injury in October 2018 sidelined him for two months. Upon returning, he capitalized on Chris Mepham’s absence and a shift to a back-three system under manager Thomas Frank, cementing a starting role by December 2018 and maintaining it through the end of the 2018–2019 season.
The 2019–2020 season was more mixed. Despite making 27 appearances and scoring once, he found himself behind Pontus Jansson and Ethan Pinnock in the defensive hierarchy. He notably missed out on the promotion play-off matches at the season’s end.
The arrival of Charlie Goode in the 2020 offseason further limited his opportunities, prompting a loan move to Turkish side Kasımpaşa for the 2020–2021 campaign. Unfortunately, after just four appearances, Jeanvier suffered an ACL rupture in October 2020, ending his season prematurely. While he recovered, Brentford secured promotion to the Premier League by winning the 2021 play-off final.
Jeanvier returned to Brentford for the 2021–2022 season and was named in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad. His recovery progressed slowly—non-contact training resumed in November 2021, followed by a return to action with the reserves in March 2022. Illness to Pontus Jansson allowed him to rejoin the senior matchday squad on April 10, 2022, for a 2–0 win over West Ham, though he remained an unused substitute for the rest of the campaign. He was released upon the expiration of his contract, having made 58 appearances and scored six goals in four seasons at Brentford.
Return to France with Auxerre and a Fresh Start in Turkey
In July 2022, Jeanvier joined Reading FC on trial and participated in the club’s pre-season training camp at St George’s Park, but no contract offer materialized. On July 18, 2022, he began a two-week trial with newly promoted Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre, which resulted in a one-year contract with an optional extension.
Despite making 24 appearances and scoring once during the 2022–2023 season, he could not prevent Auxerre from being relegated to Ligue 2. The club opted not to exercise the extension clause, leaving him a free agent.
On September 16, 2023, Jeanvier returned to Turkey, signing a two-year contract with Süper Lig outfit Kayserispor. During the 2023–2024 season, he made 14 appearances and scored once, playing a key role in helping the team narrowly avoid relegation.
International Career with Guinea
Though born in France and having taken part in the 2010 Copa del Atlántico with the France U18 squad (without being capped), Jeanvier chose to represent Guinea—his mother’s homeland—at senior level.
He made his international debut for the Syli National in a friendly against Gambia on June 7, 2019, which ended in a 1–0 loss. Shortly after, he was included in the squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he featured in one match.
Following a two-and-a-half-year absence from the national team, he was recalled for two 2023 AFCON qualifiers in June 2022. He remained on the bench for the first match before withdrawing from the squad for personal reasons.
Four years after his last cap, Jeanvier returned to the national setup in November 2023 for two 2026 World Cup qualifiers, starting both matches. His perseverance was rewarded with a place in Guinea’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he featured in four matches and helped his team reach the quarter-finals.
