Mohamed Kone: Ivory Coast midfielder joins FC Annecy on loan from Aston Villa U21

Ivory Coast midfielder Mohamed Kone has joined Ligue 2 side FC Annecy on loan from Aston Villa U21. The 19-year-old central midfielder moves to France for the 2026-27 campaign after a year in English youth football.

Kone’s temporary switch was finalised on 17 July 2026, with the deal running until 30 June 2027. He is under contract with Annecy for the duration of the season as he looks to gain senior experience in the French second tier.

The move marks the next step in Kone’s career after his time with Aston Villa’s under-21s, whom he joined from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas in July 2025. During his spell in England he featured regularly in Premier League 2, as well as appearing in the EFL Trophy and PL2 play-offs, and gained further experience in continental competition through the CAF Confederation Cup and UEFA Youth League.

Primarily a central midfielder, Kone has already built up a solid bank of competitive minutes at youth and development level, including 19 appearances and a goal in Premier League 2 and further outings in domestic cup and European youth competitions. His loan to Annecy offers him the platform to test himself in a fully professional league.

Kone will return to Aston Villa U21 at the end of his loan spell, with his stay at FC Annecy officially scheduled to conclude on 30 June 2027.