Samuel Junior Ngassa Eto’o, son of former Cameroon captain and football legend Samuel Eto’o, has signed with the reserve team of Red Star FC, marking a quiet but significant step in the teenager’s developing career.
The 17-year-old forward has officially joined the youth setup of the Ligue 2 club based in Paris, becoming the latest member of the Eto’o family to make his entry into the professional football landscape.
While his older brother Etienne Eto’o has previously gained public attention through his performances for Cameroon’s youth national teams, Samuel Junior has so far pursued his football journey away from the spotlight.
Unlike his father’s explosive rise to global stardom, the younger Eto’o’s path has been notably low-profile. Until now, he has remained largely unknown to the broader footballing public, with little media coverage or public exposure.
However, his signing with Red Star’s reserve squad suggests that the young forward is now ready to take his development to the next level in a structured and competitive environment.
Red Star FC, one of France’s oldest clubs and currently playing in Ligue 2, has long been known for its commitment to nurturing young talent.
The club’s reserve team serves as a key developmental platform, allowing emerging players to gain crucial match experience and prepare for senior-level competition.
The arrival of Samuel Junior Eto’o is seen as a long-term investment by the club, with hopes that he can eventually grow into a first-team player.
Though specific details about his playing style remain limited, the Eto’o name carries with it expectations and scrutiny. His father, Samuel Eto’o, is regarded as one of Africa’s most iconic footballers, having won multiple Champions League titles with Barcelona and Inter Milan, as well as representing Cameroon in four World Cups and leading the national team to African Cup of Nations glory.
Samuel Junior’s choice to join Red Star signals a deliberate approach to his early career, away from the glamour of top-tier academies and under a more modest, development-focused framework.
It also places him within the competitive structure of French football, where many African talents have historically matured into world-class players.
This move follows a quiet pattern within the Eto’o family, where multiple children have pursued football with varying levels of attention.
Etienne Eto’o, the more well-known sibling, has featured in several youth tournaments for Cameroon, but even he has often maintained a relatively low public profile compared to the expectations placed on players with famous surnames.
For Red Star FC, the signing reflects both a sporting and symbolic gesture—welcoming a young player with a famous lineage but also with the potential to carve out his own path on merit.
The club is expected to take a patient approach with Samuel Junior, giving him time to adapt to the demands of French football and grow within the ranks.
As the summer transfer window progresses, Samuel Junior Ngassa Eto’o will begin pre-season training with Red Star’s reserves, aiming to quietly build a foundation for his own legacy in the game—distinct from, yet inevitably linked to, that of his father.
🔴 INFO: Samuel Junior Ngassa Eto’o (17 ans), fils du président de la FECAFOOT, s’engage pour une saison avec L’équipe réserve du Redstar, club de Ligue2 en France. #CFOOT🇨🇲🦁 pic.twitter.com/9GbH09L2NK
— CFOOT (@cfootcameroun) July 21, 2025
