Valentin Gnahoua
# Valentin Gnahoua

Valentin Gnahoua (born September 29, 1994) is a French professional gridiron football defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was the first overall pick by the Tiger-Cats in the 2019 European CFL Draft. Gnahoua has also been a member of the Berlin Rebels and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

## Early years

Gnahoua began playing American football in 2011, joining a local semi-pro team, the Caimans du Mans, as a sixteen-year old. He was drawn to the sport after watching a National Football League game on television earlier that year.

In 2016, he arrived in Canada, playing one season of collegiate football for the McGill Redmen before a sudden increase in international student tuition forced him to return to France.

## Professional career

### Berlin Rebels

He rejoined the Caimans in 2017, playing well enough early on in the campaign to get signed by the Berlin Rebels of the German Football League (GFL) midway through the 2017 GFL season. He recorded 47 tackles and nine sacks during his two seasons with the Rebels.

### Hamilton Tiger-Cats

In 2019, he was announced as one of the 18 European players invited to the 2019 CFL Combine in Toronto. The following month, in April, he was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as the first overall pick in the inaugural European CFL draft, part of commissioner Randy Ambrosie's initiative to grow the league's presence internationally. He began the season as a member of the practice squad, but made his debut during their week 9 matchup against the BC Lions on August 10, recovering an onside kick that led to a second-quarter field goal in the 35-34 victory.

Gnahoua signed a contract extension with the Tiger-Cats on December 29, 2020. He was placed on the suspended list on July 19, 2021, but was later activated and played in the first regular season game of 2021. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.

### Saskatchewan Roughriders

On February 17, 2023, it was announced that Gnahoua had signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was released during training camp.

### Hamilton Tiger-Cats

On July 10, 2023 re-signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

## Personal life

His father was a professional association football (soccer) player who was a member of the Ivory Coast national football team and played professionally in France, where Valentin was born.

