Sékou Koné
 Koné in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 February 2006 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bamako, Mali | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Manchester United | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 42 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| JMG Academy | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Guidars FC | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Manchester United | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Manchester United | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Mali U17 | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:57, 2 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:44, 27 April 2024 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
Sékou Koné (born 3 February 2006) is a Malian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Manchester United. At international level, he has played for the Mali under-17 team.
Career
A graduate of JMG Academy, Koné played for Bamako-based club Guidars.[2] He played for Mali at the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, where his performances helped Mali to a fourth-place finish, as well as earning Koné a place in the team of the tournament.[3] He then appeared at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, at which Mali finished third thanks to a 3–0 win over Argentina in the third-place play-off.[4] This led to interest from clubs around the world, including England's Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.[5]
Koné signed for Manchester United on 30 August 2024.[6]
Style of play
Koné mainly plays as a defensive midfielder and is known for his ball-winning skills and stamina, which allow him to track back and disrupt opposition play, but he is also capable of getting involved in attacking moves.[7]
His style of play has been compared to that of former Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Touré by the African media due to his explosive and energetic displays.[8][9]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 12 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United U21 | 2024–25[10] | — | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Career Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
- ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
Mali U17
- FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2023[11]
Individual
- U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Best XI: 2023[3]
References
- ^ "Sékou Koné Manchester United Midfielder, Profile & Stats | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Keifer, MacDonald (22 August 2024). "Who is Sekou Kone? Meet Man United new wonderkid signing who has secret Tottenham link". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Senegal's dominance shines in TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Best XI". CAFOnline.com. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Coombs, Dan (27 August 2024). "Sekou Kone showed exactly why Man Utd are signing him, wonderkid has got everything". unitedinfocus.com. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Cunningham, Jack (23 August 2024). "Who is Sekou Kone? Manchester United agree deal to sign 'next Yaya Toure' from same academy as Tottenham star". talkSport. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Marshall, Adam (30 August 2024). "Kone signs for United". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ Gamp, Oli (24 August 2024). "Who is Sekou Kone? Teenage wonderkid set to make Manchester United transfer". themirror.com. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Gamp, Oli (23 August 2024). "Who is Sekou Kone? Man Utd agree deal for 'next Yaya Toure' who shone at World Cup". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Sekou Kone: Manchester United Finalize Deal for 'Next Yaya Toure'". footboom1.com. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Sékou Koné in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Magnificent Mali clinch bronze". FIFA. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.