Malick Fofana Explained

Malick Fofana
Fullname:Malick Martin Fofana
Birth Date:31 March 2005
Birth Place:Aalst, Belgium
Height:1.69m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Lyon
Clubnumber:11
Youthyears1:–2014
Youthclubs1:Eendracht Aalst
Youthyears2:2014–2022
Youthclubs2:Gent
Years1:2022–2024
Clubs1:Jong Gent
Caps1:13
Goals1:4
Years2:2022–2024
Clubs2:Gent
Caps2:41
Goals2:2
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Lyon
Caps3:18
Goals3:3
Club-Update:19 May 2024
Nationalyears1:2020
Nationalteam1:Belgium U15
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021–2022
Nationalteam2:Belgium U17
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:5
Nationalyears3:2022–2023
Nationalteam3:Belgium U18
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2022–
Nationalteam4:Belgium U20
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2023–
Nationalteam5:Belgium U21
Nationalcaps5:7
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalteam-Update:23:25, 18 August 2024 (UTC)

Malick Martin Fofana (born 31 March 2005) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ligue 1 club Lyon and the Belgium under-21 national team.

Club career

Fofana started playing football at Eendracht Aalst before joining Gent's youth academy at the age of nine. There, he signed his first professional contract in January 2022.[1] [2] [3]

After he already participated in the pre-season friendlies,[4] Fofana made his professional debut for Gent on the 30 July 2022, replacing Hugo Cuypers during a 1–1 home Division A draw against Sint-Truiden.[5] Only a week later, he was awarded his first start against Westerlo, leading his team to a 2–1 home win.[6]

On 10 January 2024, Fofana joined Ligue 1 side Lyon for a fee of 17 million, plus €5 million in add-ons, and a 20% sell-on clause on a future sale in favor of Gent; he signed a contract until June 2028 with the French club.[7] [8] [9] In the process, he became the third Belgian player in the history of Lyon, following Eric Deflandre and Jason Denayer.

International career

Fofana is a youth international for Belgium, having first established himself as a regular goalscorer with the under-17 national team, with whom he played the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[10]

Fofana made his debut for the Belgium under-21 national in a 1-0 home win over Kazakhstan in September 2023, making further appearances the following month in wins over Malta and Hungary.

Personal life

Born in Belgium, Fofana is of Guinean and Filipino descent.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong Gent2022–23Belgian National Division 1134134
Gent2022–23Belgian Pro League220317010331
2023–24Belgian Pro League1922061283
Total4125113110614
Lyon2023–24Ligue 117341214
2024–25Ligue 110000010
Total1834100224
Career total71992131109512

Honours

Lyon

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 20 Jan 2022 . Officieel: AA Gent deal met Fofana . 9 August 2022 . Voetbalbelgie.be.
  2. Web site: Fiammetti . Alexandre . 2022-01-20 . La Gantoise offre un premier contrat professionnel à un énorme talent . 2022-08-09 . Walfoot.be . fr.
  3. Web site: 2022-01-20 . Gantoise : la pépite guinéenne Malick Fofana s'offre son premier contrat pro . 2022-08-09 . Foot224 – Actualité Sport Guinée . fr-FR.
  4. Web site: Vandenbussche . Bart . 2022-06-18 . AA Gent opent voorbereiding met ruime zege, Sven Kums scoort pareltje . 2022-08-09 . Voetbalkrant.com . nl.
  5. Web site: Woos . Loïc . 2022-07-30 . Saint-Trond arrache un point sur la pelouse de La Gantoise . 2022-08-09 . Walfoot.be . fr.
  6. Web site: Floren . Steve . 2022-08-07 . Malick voor het eerst in de basis bij Gent: "Ik krijg heel veel berichtjes" . 2022-08-09 . Voetbalkrant.com . nl.
  7. Web site: 10 January 2024 . L’international Espoirs belge Malick Fofana s’engage avec l’OL jusqu'en 2028 . 10 January 2024 . www.ol.fr . Olympique Lyonnais . fr-FR.
  8. Web site: 10 January 2024 . Transferts : Malick Fofana s'engage avec l'OL (officiel) . 10 January 2024 . L'Équipe . fr-FR.
  9. Web site: Lizin . Cédric . 10 January 2024 . Le Diablotin Malick Fofana quitte La Gantoise et file à Lyon contre 22 millions d’euros . 10 January 2024 . RTBF . fr-BE.
  10. Web site: Defawe . Maxence . 12 May 2022 . Fofana, Mawete, Monticelli : 3 pépites belges à suivre durant l'Euro U17 . 2022-08-09 . . fr.
  11. Web site: 25 May 2024 . PSG beat Lyon 2-1 to win French Cup final in Mbappe's farewell appearance . 25 May 2024 . Reuters.