Moussa Sissoko has been playing senior football for almost two decades, yet 2026 brought another new chapter. After returning to Watford for a second spell and serving as one of the most experienced players in the squad, the French midfielder left England in February and joined Panathinaikos in Greece. The move reunited him with Rafa Benítez, a coach he had previously worked with at Newcastle United, and gave him the chance to continue playing at a high level rather than step away from the game. Sissoko is now 37, has played in the Premier League, Ligue 1, the Championship and the Greek Super League, and owns 71 senior caps for France. This 2026 profile looks at his estimated net worth, salary situation, transfer, injury record, wife, retirement status and the questions fans most often search about him.
Moussa Sissoko Profile
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Profile Detail |
Information |
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Full Name |
Moussa Sissoko |
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Date of Birth |
16 August 1989 |
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Age in 2026 |
37 years old |
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Place of Birth |
Le Blanc-Mesnil, France |
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Nationality |
French, with Malian family roots |
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Height |
1.87 m, about 6 ft 2 in |
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Position |
Central Midfielder |
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Preferred Foot |
Right |
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Current Club |
Panathinaikos |
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Shirt Number |
17 |
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Contract Expires |
30 June 2027 |
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Net Worth in 2026 |
£26 million to £29 million |
Who is Moussa Sissoko?
Moussa Sissoko is a French professional midfielder who plays for Panathinaikos in Greece. He was born in Le Blanc-Mesnil, near Paris, and joined Toulouse’s academy as a teenager after being spotted by the club’s scouts.
He made his professional debut before turning 18 and quickly became one of Toulouse’s most dependable young players. His combination of strength, stamina and ball carrying eventually attracted clubs in England.
Newcastle United signed him in January 2013. He spent three and a half seasons there before Tottenham Hotspur paid around £30 million for him in 2016. His Tottenham years included the club’s run to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.
Sissoko later played for Watford, Nantes and then Watford again. In February 2026, he moved permanently to Panathinaikos and signed a one-and-a-half-year contract.
Moussa Sissoko Net Worth and Salary in 2026
Icon Polls estimates Moussa Sissoko’s net worth in 2026 at between £26 million and £29 million. This is an editorial estimate based on his long Premier League career, transfer history, club salaries, bonuses, sponsorship income and years as a France international. His private financial records have not been published.
His exact Panathinaikos salary has not been publicly disclosed. That means a precise current wage should not be presented as confirmed fact.
The best recent salary reference comes from his Watford contract. His estimated gross wage there was about £45,000 per week, which equals roughly £2.34 million per year before tax and bonuses.
His Panathinaikos agreement may be structured differently because he joined at 36 and signed for only one and a half years. A shorter senior contract can include appearance bonuses, signing payments and performance incentives that are not visible in a basic annual salary estimate.
At this point in his career, Sissoko’s wealth is the result of nearly 20 years of professional football rather than one single contract.
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Moussa Sissoko Transfer to Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos signed Sissoko from Watford in February 2026 on a permanent deal. Watford confirmed his departure after 61 appearances during his second spell with the club.
The transfer fee was not publicly disclosed. Panathinaikos announced that Sissoko had signed a contract lasting one and a half years, taking the agreement through 30 June 2027.
The move was influenced by his previous relationship with Rafa Benítez. Sissoko had worked with Benítez at Newcastle United and later said that speaking with the coach played an important role in his decision to move to Greece.
At 36, the transfer was not about future resale value. Panathinaikos wanted experience, physical presence and leadership in midfield.
Sissoko arrived with a career that included Toulouse, Newcastle, Tottenham, Watford and Nantes. Very few players in the Greek league could match that level of Premier League and international experience.
Moussa Sissoko Injury Update
Injuries disrupted Sissoko’s first months at Panathinaikos. Shortly after arriving, he had an injury problem that kept him unavailable through much of February 2026.
He later returned and made four league appearances, but another setback followed in March. Public injury records list a muscle strain beginning on 21 March 2026.
That injury caused him to miss several matches and remained listed as an active problem well into the summer. Public databases in early August still showed his return date as unclear, although he remained registered as a Panathinaikos player.
Sissoko has dealt with injuries before. His most serious recent setback came at Tottenham in January 2020, when knee surgery kept him out for nearly three months.
At 37, recovery and workload management are naturally more important. His role at Panathinaikos may depend as much on staying available as on his experience and quality.
Moussa Sissoko Wife
Moussa Sissoko is married to Marylou Sidibé. The couple had been together for several years before wedding photographs were publicly shared in 2021.
Marylou became known in France after appearing on the television show Koh-Lanta. She later worked in fitness and has shared parts of family life on social media.
The couple has a daughter named Maliya, born in September 2018. Sissoko also has a son named Kais from an earlier relationship.
Family has always been important to Sissoko. During his Tottenham years, he often spoke about spending time with relatives when football allowed it. He has also mentioned that his family and close friends supported him during difficult periods of his career.
Marylou and Moussa generally keep their relationship more private than many celebrity couples, although important family moments have occasionally appeared publicly.
Moussa Sissoko Retirement
Moussa Sissoko has not retired from professional football. In fact, his February 2026 move to Panathinaikos is clear evidence that he intended to continue playing.
His contract runs until 30 June 2027. If he completes the agreement, he will be 37 for most of the 2026/27 season and will turn 38 shortly after the next campaign begins.
At this stage of his career, retirement questions are natural. Sissoko has played more than 600 senior club matches and represented France 71 times. He has also experienced major tournaments, a Champions League final and several different leagues.
However, there has been no official retirement announcement. The main issue in 2026 is his fitness, especially after the muscle injury that interrupted his first months in Greece.
The most accurate answer is simple: Sissoko is still an active Panathinaikos player and remains under contract through June 2027.
Moussa Sissoko France Career
Sissoko made his senior France debut in 2009. His international career lasted more than a decade and included 71 appearances and two goals.
He played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was part of the France team that reached the Euro 2016 final on home soil. France lost that final to Portugal, but Sissoko was one of the standout French players on the night.
He missed the 2018 World Cup squad, a difficult moment because France went on to win the tournament. Sissoko later worked his way back into the national team and returned for Euro 2020.
He was also part of the wider France group during the period when the country won the 2021 UEFA Nations League.
By 2026, his international career was effectively over, but he had never needed a formal retirement announcement to secure his place in the history of the modern France team.
Moussa Sissoko Playing Style and Height
Sissoko stands 1.87 metres tall, which is roughly 6 feet 2 inches. His physical power has always been one of the most obvious parts of his game.
At his peak, he could carry the ball over long distances and break through midfield lines with strength and speed. He played centrally but was also used on the right side because of his ability to cover ground.
His technical style was never based on delicate passing alone. Coaches valued him because he could protect teammates, win duels, track runners and move the team forward with direct runs.
As he has grown older, his game has naturally become less explosive. Experience, positioning and game management now matter more.
Panathinaikos did not sign him to become a long-term development project. The club signed him because an experienced midfielder can still influence matches, training standards and younger teammates.
Moussa Sissoko Career Journey
Sissoko’s senior career began at Toulouse in 2007. He became a first-team regular at a young age and made close to 200 appearances before leaving France.
Newcastle United signed him in January 2013. He quickly adapted to English football and became one of the team’s most athletic midfielders.
Tottenham made him a major signing in 2016. His first season was difficult, but he rebuilt his reputation and eventually became an important player under Mauricio Pochettino. He started the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool.
Watford signed him in 2021. After one season, he returned to France with Nantes and spent two years there before rejoining Watford in 2024.
His second Watford spell included leadership responsibilities and regular appearances. Panathinaikos then brought him to Greece in February 2026, adding another country to an already long European career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moussa Sissoko
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1. How old is Moussa Sissoko in 2026?
He is 37 years old. He was born on 16 August 1989.
2. What is Moussa Sissoko’s net worth in 2026?
Icon Polls estimates his net worth at between £26 million and £29 million.
3. What is Moussa Sissoko’s salary at Panathinaikos?
His exact Panathinaikos salary has not been publicly disclosed.
4. What was Moussa Sissoko’s salary at Watford?
His recent Watford salary was estimated at about £45,000 per week, or £2.34 million per year.
5. Which club does Moussa Sissoko play for in 2026?
He plays for Panathinaikos in Greece.
6. When did Moussa Sissoko join Panathinaikos?
He joined the club permanently from Watford in February 2026.
7. How long is Moussa Sissoko’s Panathinaikos contract?
He signed for one and a half years, with the contract running until 30 June 2027.
8. What shirt number does Moussa Sissoko wear?
He wears number 17 for Panathinaikos.
9. What is Moussa Sissoko’s transfer value in 2026?
His market value was around €200,000 in June 2026, reflecting his age and contract stage.
10. What injury does Moussa Sissoko have?
He suffered a muscle strain in March 2026 after an earlier injury problem in February.
11. How many matches did Moussa Sissoko miss through injury in 2026?
Public injury records show that his two 2026 injury periods cost him roughly 14 matches.
12. Is Moussa Sissoko still injured?
Public injury trackers in early August 2026 still listed him with a muscle strain and no confirmed return date.
13. Who is Moussa Sissoko’s wife?
His wife is Marylou Sidibé.
14. When did Moussa Sissoko get married?
Wedding photographs confirming the marriage were publicly shared in 2021.
15. Does Moussa Sissoko have children?
Yes. He has a daughter named Maliya with Marylou and a son named Kais from an earlier relationship.
16. Has Moussa Sissoko retired?
No. He is still an active Panathinaikos player.
17. When could Moussa Sissoko retire?
He has not announced a retirement date. His current contract runs until June 2027.
18. What nationality is Moussa Sissoko?
He is French and has Malian family roots.
19. How tall is Moussa Sissoko?
He is approximately 1.87 metres tall, or about 6 feet 2 inches.
20. What position does Moussa Sissoko play?
He plays mainly as a central midfielder but has also played on the right and in attacking midfield.
21. Did Moussa Sissoko play for Tottenham?
Yes. He played for Tottenham from 2016 to 2021 and started the 2019 Champions League final.
22. How many times did Moussa Sissoko play for France?
He earned 71 senior caps and scored two goals for France.
23. Did Moussa Sissoko play in the World Cup?
Yes. He represented France at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
24. What are Moussa Sissoko’s main strengths?
His main strengths have been physical power, ball carrying, stamina, defensive work, versatility and experience.
Moussa Sissoko’s 2026 story is not a retirement story yet. At 37, he is still under contract, still part of Panathinaikos and still trying to contribute after an injury-disrupted start in Greece. His career has already taken him through France, England and now Greece, with a Champions League final and 71 France appearances along the way. The next question is whether his body allows him to complete the final year of his contract and add another meaningful season. Icon Polls will continue to follow his injury recovery, salary situation and eventual retirement decision.