Ivorian forward Mamadou Koné signs first professional contract with FC Lorient

Mamadou Koné has signed his first professional contract with Ligue 1 side FC Lorient, marking a major milestone in the 18-year-old striker’s career.

The announcement was confirmed by the Abidjan-based Ivoire Academy, where Koné began his football journey before furthering his development at Africa Foot in Mali.

Speaking in an interview with Africafoot, the Ivorian youth international expressed his pride at achieving his long-held dream of becoming a professional footballer, while emphasising the responsibility and dedication required to succeed at this level.

“I’m very happy to have signed for FC Lorient. Becoming a professional footballer was already a dream come true. It’s now a reality that I must live with full responsibility. There’s still a lot to do. I’m now going to fight for the essentials,” Koné said.

The teenager’s decision to join Lorient came amid interest from several French clubs, including LOSC Lille, but Koné opted for Les Merlus, convinced that their reputation for developing young talent would provide the ideal platform for his growth.

“I chose FC Lorient because I thought it was a club that could quickly help me progress,” he explained. “As you know, FC Lorient is a club that trusts young talent. It’s also an ambitious club with its youth development project.

It helps young players tremendously in their growth. Many of them started here and went on to shine in the professional world.”

Now officially part of Lorient’s first-team squad, Koné is determined to make his mark and contribute to the club’s ambitions in Ligue 1 following their promotion. The highly regarded forward has set his sights on becoming a key figure within the squad while also earning individual accolades.

“I tell myself I’m part of the project. I train with the first team, I travel with them,” he said. “Our goal is to finish in a better position.

Personally, I want to finish among the club’s best players and also among the top scorers. I hope to win trophies with FC Lorient and aim for a top club, inshAllah.”

Koné’s move represents a significant leap in his career, and the club’s faith in his potential is evident in the five-year deal he has signed, keeping him at Lorient until 2028.

The promising forward now has both the time and platform to develop his skills, adapt to the demands of Ligue 1, and establish himself as one of the rising stars of African football.

For Lorient, securing Koné’s signature aligns with their long-standing strategy of investing in young, dynamic players capable of making an impact in French football and beyond.

For Koné, it marks the realisation of a lifelong ambition and the beginning of a new chapter where he intends to prove himself at the highest level.