Aurélien Djani Tchouaméni (French pronunciation: [oʁeljɛ̃ dʒani tʃuameni, tʃwa-]; born 27 January 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a centre-back for La Liga club Real Madrid and the France national team.
Tchouaméni began his senior career with Bordeaux before joining Monaco in 2020. He developed into one of the leading midfielders in Ligue 1 before signing for Real Madrid in 2022. With Madrid, he has won several domestic and international honours, including La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Tchouaméni made his senior debut for the France national team in 2021. He won the UEFA Nations League in the 2020–21 season and was part of the France side that finished runners-up at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He also represented France at UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they finished fourth.
Aurélien Djani Tchouaméni was born on 27 January 2000 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, and grew up in Bordeaux, Gironde. He is of Cameroonian descent. He acquired French nationality on 19 December 2000 through the collective effect of his parents' naturalization.
Tchouaméni made his first-team debut for Bordeaux in a 1–0 UEFA Europa League away win against Latvian side Ventspils in the second qualifying round on 26 July 2018, starting the match and playing 89 minutes. He scored his first goal of his senior club career on 9 August, netting the final goal in Bordeaux's 3–1 Europa League away victory over Mariupol.
On 29 January 2020, Tchouaméni signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Ligue 1 side Monaco. After almost a year playing for the club, he registered his first league goal, netting the second goal in a 3–1 win against Marseille on 23 January 2021. On 14 May 2022, he delivered an assist for his captain Wissam Ben Yedder and, thus, participated in the ninth win in a row for his side.
On 11 June 2022, La Liga club Real Madrid announced that Tchouaméni joined the club, signing a six-year contract with the club. The transfer fee was reported to be €80 million, which could rise to €100 million due to additional fees.
Tchouaméni made his official debut for the club on 10 August, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup to win his first career club trophy. On 30 September 2023, he scored his first goal for Los Blancos, a header in a 3–0 league away win over Girona.
On 7 May 2026, Tchouaméni and teammate Federico Valverde got into a fight after a training session. Valverde reportedly needed stitches and was brought to the hospital after getting cut during the altercation. Further on, after striking his head, Valverde experienced partial memory loss and was discovered by his teammates on the ground, drenched in blood and half-conscious. After the altercation, Real Madrid initiated a disciplinary investigation. The process concluded in both players extending mutual apologies to each other. As a result, the club imposed a fine of €500 thousand on each player and formally concluded the internal inquiry.
On 26 August 2021, Tchouaméni received his first call up to the France senior squad. On 1 September, he made his international debut in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Bosnia and Herzegovina replacing Thomas Lemar in the 46th minute. On 25 March 2022, Tchouaméni scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly against Ivory Coast.
In November 2022, Tchouaméni was named in France's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. On 10 December, he scored his first World Cup goal in a 2–1 victory over England in the quarter-finals.
On 18 December 2022, Tchouaméni started in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final. He was one of two French players to miss in the penalty shootout as France lost to Argentina at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar.
On 14 May 2026, Tchouaméni was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As of match played 15 September 2026
As of match played 14 July 2026
As of match played 14 July 2026
France score listed first, score column indicates score after each Tchouaméni goal
Coupe de France runner-up: 2020–21