Born in Beaumont-sur-Oise in the Paris region, Presnel Kimpembe started playing football at AS Éragny (Val-d'Oise) before joining the capital club in 2005, at the age of just 10. He progressed through all the youth categories before joining the U19 squad, where he made his Youth League debut in September 2013, at just 17 years of age, and helped his side reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
A true star of the Parisian youth system, Presnel Kimpembe made his first appearance in Laurent Blanc's professional squad in the Trophée des Champions against Guingamp, where he won his first title in the Rouge & Bleu jersey.
A few weeks later, he made his debut with the first team on 17 October 2014, replacing Thiago Motta fifteen minutes before the end of the match against RC Lens. This moment marked the beginning of a long and successful relationship between the young defender and the capital club.
On 17 March 2015, Presnel Kimpembe signed his first professional contract with Paris Saint-Germain and, a few months later, won his first French league title - the first of many. A leader who always proved combative and powerful in one-on-one situations, he gradually established himself in the Parisian squad during the 2015-2016 season and confirmed his status in the following campaign.
The 2016-2017 season saw him sign his second contract extension with his beloved club, but also marked his breakthrough, with 28 appearances and a remarkable Champions League debut in the victorious first leg of the round of 16 against FC Barcelona, where he impressed with his commitment and natural leadership.
At the end of a successful 2017-2018 season, marked by a treble (French Championship, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue), Presnel Kimpembe flew to Russia to compete in the 2018 World Cup, which he won with the French national team, becoming a world champion as a representative of Paris Saint-Germain. In the wake of this victorious summer, he extended his contract with the capital club through to 2023 and, on 12 February 2019, scored his first professional goal in the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Manchester United - six years after making his debut with the Parisian club.
Two months later, on 17 April 2019, Presnel Kimpembe wore the Paris Saint-Germain captain's armband for the first time on the pitch at La Beaujoire. Having become a key member of the team, he then alternated the captaincy with Marquinhos and, alongside the Brazilian defender, formed a solid and successful partnership, guiding Paris Saint-Germain to numerous successes.
The Parisian youngster was also recognised on an individual level, featuring in the Champions League Team of the Season in 2020, then in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season at the 2021 UNFP Awards.
On 26 February 2023, during an away game in Marseille, Presnel Kimpembe suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that kept him out of action for many months. True to his warrior mentality, however, he remained focused on coming back stronger to help his beloved club.
On 4 February, almost two years after his serious injury at the Stade Vélodrome, Presnel Kimpembe made his big return to competition in the Coupe de France round of 16 against Le Mans.
This return allowed him to fully experience Paris Saint-Germain's historic season, punctuated by an unprecedented quadruple: the Trophée des Champions, the French Championship, the Coupe de France and, above all, the Champions League. By finally lifting the Champions League trophy, Presnel Kimpembe achieved the ultimate goal of his career and fulfilled a lifelong dream.
The embodiment of club spirit and a real guide for the Parisian youth players during his time at the club, Presnel Kimpembe has taken on this role for many years with successive generations. In recent seasons, he has played a key role in the development of young talents such as Warren Zaïre-Emery, Senny Mayulu, Ibrahim Mbaye and Noham Kamara.
Presnel Kimpembe has also had a remarkable adventure with the French national team. He was called up to Les Bleus for the first time in October 2016, before playing his first minutes in a friendly match against Russia in March 2018. The Parisian defender was one of 23 players selected by Didier Deschamps for the 2018 World Cup, he was named to the starting line-up for the the third group-stage match, against Denmark (0-0). On 15 July 2018, at just 22 years of age, he became a World Champion. In October 2021, he started in the Nations League final victory over Spain, helping Les Bleus win the trophy for the first time. On 6 June 2022, during a match between France and Croatia, he wore the captain's armband for Les Bleus, the first time this has happened for a Paris Saint-Germain youth academy graduate.
Presnel Kimpembe has played 241 matches for Les Rouge & Bleu, scoring three goals, providing two assists and wearing the captain's armband 31 times. He is also the third-most decorated player in Paris Saint-Germain's history, with eight French league titles, seven Coupes de France, six Trophée des Champions, five Coupes de la Ligue and one UEFA Champions League.
Deeply committed to and sensitive to social issues, Presnel Kimpembe has been the patron of the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation since October 2022.
He will remain a player who is close to and loved by the supporters, who have never ceased to admire and respect his commitment to the Rouge & Bleu jersey over the past 20 years.
A child of the Paris region, an academy graduate and a true captain and leader, Presnel Kimpembe will forever remain a major player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain. The club and its supporters thank him for all these years and wish him all the best for the rest of his career.
"Presnel Kimpembe has had an incredible career with Paris Saint-Germain. Since the age of 8, Presnel has grown and developed in every way at his beloved club - always being an ambassador and model professional. He is a fantastic example to young players of our Academy, and will always be part of the Paris Saint-Germain family. We wish him all the very best for the future and his next adventure."
