Portuguese giants FC Porto have successfully secured the acquisition of Ivory Coast international Seko Fofana in the current transfer window.
The 30-year-old experienced midfielder joins the Dragons on loan until the end of the 2025/26 football campaign from French Ligue 1 outfit Stade Rennes. The move is valued at 2 million euros.
The loan deal included a purchase option worth 17 million euros, as well as additional financial bonuses, including a resale clause.
Fofana joined Rennes at the start of 2025 from Saudi side Al-Nassr for 20 million euros. He has made 29 appearances for the French club, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist. This season, Fofana has played 12 matches for Rennes, netting 1 goal.
Born in Paris to Ivorian parents, Fofana began his football career in France, featuring for Paris FC and Lorient at the youth level.
The midfielder gained prominence at RC Lens, where he helped the club to a stunning second-place finish in the 2022/23 season. His performances earned individual recognition, including the prestigious Marc-Vivien Foé Award, confirming him as the best African player in Ligue 1. By then, Fofana was no longer just a midfielder; he was the heartbeat of his team.
His journey then took him to Saudi Arabia, a move that raised eyebrows but also reflected his ambition to explore new challenges. Even away from Europe’s biggest stages, his influence and professionalism remained evident.
On the international stage, Fofana made a defining choice. Though he represented France at youth level, his heart lay with Ivory Coast. Wearing the orange jersey, he became a symbol of pride and determination. His finest moment came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored the opening goal of the tournament and played a key role as the Elephants lifted the trophy on home soil, a crowning achievement that etched his name into Ivorian football history.
