The 17-year-old centre-back has been under contract with Borussia Dortmund since July 2021. The French U18 international came to BVB from France.

The 17-year-old is considered one of the most promising talents from the Paris Saint-Germain academy. The French defender has not yet made it on to the pitch for the first team, but has regularly trained with the first team squad of the 2020 Champions League finalists last season and is a member of the French U18 national team.

Soumaila Coulibaly has signed a long-term contract with BVB. "I am absolutely delighted to be able to play for a club steeped in such tradition in future. I am grateful for the education I enjoyed receiving at Paris Saint-Germain, but I believe that this change is now the best step for me," he said in March 2021 after announcing his move to BVB, adding: "I had offers from other clubs, but when I first spoke to the BVB executives, I knew straight away that this was the right club for me. I can't wait to get started at my new club."

His former teammate Tanguy Nianzou, who had moved from PSG to Bayern Munich a year earlier, had told him only good things about the Bundesliga and Borussia "and gave me the tip to learn German quickly," he said in an interview with Le Parisien.

He came into the world on 14 October 2003 in the Paris suburb of Montfermeil – a place where many successful careers have started. The region around the French capital is considered a highly fertile ground for producing footballers. Superstars Kylian Mbappé and Paul Pogba are from there, as are the Bundesliga pros Christopher Nkunku, Kingsley Coman and Moussa Diaby – as well as Dan-Axel Zagadou. In 2018, Coulibaly moved to academy of Paris Saint-Germain and was promoted by the coach at the time, Thomas Tuchel, to the extended first team squad for the 2020/21 season. In early 2021, he tore a cruciate ligament and therefore was not able to make his competitive debut for PSG.

Soumaila Coulibaly pairs pace and technique with robustness. He is almost 6'3" tall, strong in the tackle and is good in the air and on the ground. He also has an excellent ability to pass and start off attacks with his strong left foot.