It is a career path as sudden as it is unexpected. Ayman Kari, long regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from PSG’s academy, has decided to end his professional career at just 21 years old. The young midfielder now reportedly wants to pursue a more conventional career and has already begun looking for a job.
The decision is all the more surprising given that Kari was still considered, only a few years ago, a player capable of establishing himself at the highest level. Developed at PSG, he came through the same generation as Warren Zaïre-Emery and became one of the standout talents in the Parisian academy.
From Huge PSG Prospect to Early Retirement
Born on November 19, 2004, in Ivry-sur-Seine, Kari joined the PSG setup at a young age before progressing through the club’s academy. A technically gifted and versatile midfielder, he quickly impressed with the youth teams. His potential was also recognised internationally, with Kari representing France at U18, U19 and U20 level, while also making 12 UEFA Youth League appearances for PSG. In January 2023, he signed his first professional contract with Paris before being loaned to Lorient to gain Ligue 1 experience.
Kari made his professional debut with Lorient in April 2023, remarkably against PSG at the Parc des Princes, in a match the Brittany club won 3-1. His loan was extended for the following season and he ultimately made 19 Ligue 1 appearances for Lorient, scoring once. Back at PSG in the summer of 2024, he took part in pre-season preparations and Luis Enrique initially appeared willing to give him an opportunity. However, Kari was unable to establish himself in the first-team squad and left the club when his contract expired in the summer of 2025.
A few months later, L’Équipe reported that the former PSG prospect had gradually stepped away from elite football, initially suggesting that the break could be temporary. The situation now appears more definitive, with Kari reportedly choosing to leave professional football behind and enter the conventional job market after growing tired of the demands and constraints of the professional game. At only 21, another chapter can never be completely ruled out, but for now, one of PSG’s former top academy prospects is walking away from professional football after only a handful of seasons.
