Manu Koné

Kouadio Emmanuel Boris "Manu" Koné, born to Ivorian parents (born 17 May 2001) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Roma and the France national team.

Early life Koné was born in Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine,

Club career Toulouse

Koné made his professional debut for Toulouse in a 2–1 loss to Dijon on 24 May 2019.

Borussia Mönchengladbach On 21 January 2021, Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach announced the signing of Koné on a deal running until 2025, while also confirming that he would finish the 2020–21 season at Toulouse. The reported fee for the midfielder was €9 million. After completing the move in the summer, Koné was given the number 17 jersey at Mönchengladbach. Upon signing for the new club, he stated that Gladbach was desperate to get him, and at some point, he could not say no: "They tried everything, and that impressed me". Koné scored his first goal for Gladbach in a 5–0 DFB-Pokal win over Bayern Munich on 27 October 2021. Koné played a total of 30 league matches, scoring his only goal on 11 November 2022 in a 4–2 win against Borussia Dortmund, as Gladbach finished the season in the 10th position.

The beginning of Koné's 2023–24 season was disrupted by a knee injury, suffered while being on international duty in June. Koné once again scored his only league goal against Dortmund, this time in a 4–2 loss on 25 November 2023. He was sidelined for another month after injuring his thigh playing an international friendly match on 28 March.

Roma On 30 August 2024, Koné moved to Italy, and joined Serie A club Roma for an €18 million estimated fee, signing a five-year contract. The deal was structured as a loan for the 2024–25 season, followed by an obligation to buy. Koné made his debut for the Gialorossi two days later, on 1 September, as a substitute in the 0–0 draw against Juventus. He made his first start for his new team on 15 September in a 1–1 draw against Genoa. On 27 October, he scored his first goal for Roma in a 5–1 loss against Fiorentina in the Serie A.

Koné quickly established himself as an indispensable figure in Roma's midfield, with particularly notable performances in the UEFA Europa League, where he delivered standout displays, such as in the 3–0 victory over Braga on 12 December, where he registered an assist, made 7 key passes, and completed 46 out of 51 passes. After Roma finished fifth in the Serie A for the 2024–25 season, after a late surge under new manager Claudio Ranieri, Koné described the season as "complicated", lamenting the fact that the club changed three coaches during the season: Daniele De Rossi, Ivan Jurić and Ranieri.

International career

Koné represented France as a youth international, competing at the U18, U19 and U21 level. Koné was also a member of France's team at the 2024 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal after losing 5–3 in the final against Spain.

Koné made his debut for the senior France national team on 6 September 2024 in a Nations League game against Italy at the Parc des Princes. He substituted Youssouf Fofana in the 58th minute of a 3–1 loss for France.

On 14 May 2026, Koné was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Personal life Koné is the son of Alexandre and Thérèse. He has five siblings. He is a Christian.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours France U23 Summer Olympics silver medal: 2024

France UEFA Nations League third place: 2024–25

Orders Knight of the National Order of Merit: 2024