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 | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team |
Lausanne-Sport (on loan from Manchester United) | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 80 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| JMG Academy | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Guidars FC | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Manchester United | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Manchester United | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2026– | → Lausanne-Sport (loan) | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Mali U17 | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Mali U23 | 6 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
Sékou Koné (born 3 February 2006) is a Malian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Swiss club Lausanne-Sport, on loan from 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] On 3 February 2026, it was announced that Koné will join Swiss side Lausanne-Sport on loan.[7][8]+
Koné rejoined Lausanne-Sport for another season on loan for the 2026/27 season. [9]
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.[10]
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.[11][12]
International career
On November 18, 2025, Kone scored a brace for Mali U23s in a friendly match against Indonesia U23s, salvaging a 2–2 draw.[13]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 4 November 2025
| 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 | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2025–26 | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
- 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
Mali U17
- FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2023[14]
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.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ Marshall, Adam (3 February 2026). "Kone completes overseas loan". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ↑ "Sékou Koné est lausannois!". lausanne-sport.ch. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ↑ Department, Communications. "Loan news: Kone joins Lausanne-Sport | Manchester United". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Indonesia U-23 Hold Mali to 2-2 in Second SEA Games Tune-Up". Tempo.co. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ↑ "Magnificent Mali clinch bronze". FIFA. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
External links
- Sékou Koné at Soccerway