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David Sommeil (born August 10, 1974 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe) is a French footballer who plays as a defender for English Premiership club Sheffield United.

Sommeil started his career with non-league Saint-Lo before turning professional with SM Caen, making his professional debut on February 8, 1994 against Le Havre AC. He subsequently played for Rennes before coming to prominence with Bordeaux, where he was capped by France at 'B' level.

Sommeil was signed by Kevin Keegan for Manchester City in January 2003, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract for a fee of £3.4 million. Despite an initial run of first team games and being the first Manchester City player to score a league goal at the City of Manchester Stadium in the opening home game of the 2003-04 season, Sommeil lost his place in January and had limited playing for the next two seasons.

In February 2004, he joined Olympique Marseille on loan, in a deal that brought Daniel Van Buyten to England on loan in exchange. He returned to City for the start of the 2004/05 season but was dogged by injuries during the season and only managed two appearances. Sommeil played in just 16 games in 2005-06, partly due to a fractured cheek bone, forcing him to wear a protective mask on his return, and also due to a three games ban for a challenge on Spurs' Lee Young-Pyo.

Out of contract in May 2006, after less than 50 games for City, he was one of ten players released by Manchester City but made a quick return to the Premiership when he signed a two-year contract with newly-promoted Sheffield United on May 24 2006.

Sommeil has experience of European competition having played 18 games in the UEFA Cup for Bordeaux (14 games) and Manchester City (4 games).

• 1996 French 1st Division Champions - Caen
• 2002 League Cup winner - Bordeaux

• David Sommeil career stats at Soccerbase
• (French) Official website

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