Player Profile

Gambian midfielder Saidou Khan was signed by Town from Chesterfield in July 2021 for an undisclosed fee, and quickly became a fan favourite with his all action style. Never the most disciplined - either tactically or in terms of the yellow and red cards he picked up regularly - but committed, hard working and, on his day, able to run a game.

Khan made his debut from the bench in Town’s opening day defeat at Harrogate, leading to a first start a week later against Salford at the County Ground. He scored just one goal in his first season in red and white, Town’s fifth in the 5-0 demolition of Grimsby at home, going some way to making up for having been sent off for two bookable offences in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. That red card was his first of the season, with a second against Gillingham in January and a retrospectively given red card after an off-the-ball clash at Salford led to a violent conduct charge and a five game ban. Khan will be hoping to avoid spending quite as much time suspended in his second season in red and white.

In the close season, Khan received his first call up to the Gambia national team for an AFCON qualifier against South Sudan, but did not make an appearance and was also cut from the squad for the 2023 Cup of Nations, having made a preliminary selection. In the absence of international football, his second season at Town saw somewhat improved discipline - still ten yellow cards, but no reds - but continued inconsistent performances, with the good - Grimsby and Mansfield at home - alongside some much more forgettable outings.

Khan certainly had his supports within the club though - Gaving Gunning called him “one of the best holding midfielders in the league” at the Fans’ Forum in January, which attracted some raised eyebrows from fans who took issue with the word “defensive” as much as the word “best” - his playing style not exactly being a traditional defensive anchor but much more box to box. There was certainly a feeling that being asked to play as the most defensive minded midfielder was not helping Khan’s performances, and the few games he played later in the season alongside Nnamdi Ofoborh at least hinted that he could play better with some support from his midfield colleagues in the defensive duties.

At the end of the season, the club took up an option in Khan’s contract to extend his stay for a further season. Transfer rumours have swirled around Khan since almost the moment he first donned a Swindon shirt, so it remains to be seen whether he’ll see the contract out or whether it was simply about securing a fee for the player.

Playing Record

Senior

Career details

Club	Details
Tooting and Mitcham United Tooting and Mitcham United
Dulwich Hamlet Dulwich	cs 2015
Carshalton Athletic Carshalton	rptd November 10th, 2015 (loan); expired (rptd December 10th, 2015)
Chipstead Chipstead	rptd December 11th, 2015 (loan)
Kingstonian Kingstonian	cs 2016
Chipstead Chipstead	cs 2017
Leatherhead Leatherhead	March 2017
Milton Keynes Dons MK Dons	May 2018 (trial)
Tooting and Mitcham United Tooting and Mitcham United	rptd October 1st, 2018
Maidstone United Maidstone United	rptd July 26th, 2019
Milton Keynes Dons MK Dons	August 2019 (trial)
Dagenham and Redbridge Dagenham & Redbridge	rptd March 19th, 2021 (loan); expired (2020/1)
Chesterfield Chesterfield	rptd July 10th, 2021 ; transferred out (rptd July 15th, 2022)
Swindon Town Swindon	rptd July 15th, 2022 (transferred in, undisclosed fee)
Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers	August 30th, 2024 (loan)