stars in Europe - Yaya Toure's incredible journey

He won the Champions League and two La Liga titles while with Barca. Toure also won league titles in Greece and England, and domestic cups in each country too. According to the people who know him best, Yaya Toure always had the ability and ambition he needed to make his journey from a barefooted boy footballer to one of the best players in the world. 

22 Feb 2014
stars in Europe - AC Milan set to sign Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien

Chelsea have agreed a deal with AC Milan to sell midfielder Michael Essien to the Italian side. Essien has flown in for talks and a medical with Clarence Seedorf's underachieving Serie A club.

25 Jan 2014
NATIONAL LEAGUE - TUNISIA - COACH - Ruud Krol appointed as new Esperance coach

The 64-year-old former Dutch World Cup captain joined the Tunisian side only a day after leading CS Sfaxien to glory in the Confederation Cup with a 3:2 aggregate win over TP Mazembe. Krol's departure ends a successful year at the club in which he also led the Tunisians to a first league title in eight years in May. "It was my decision to leave. 

20 Jan 2014
stars in Europe - Swansea's Wilfried Bony inspired by Drogba's success at Chelsea

New Swansea City signing Wilfried Bony believes he can emulate Ivory Coast compatriot Didier Drogba's goal-scoring exploits in the Premier League.

12 Jul 2013
CAMEROON - STARS IN EUROPE - ETO’O INAUGURATES HIS FOOTBALL ACADEMY IN GABON

The Anzhi star was accompanied by former team mates at Barcelona Victor Valdes and Xavi Hernandez in Gabon to launch his youth football training centre. - Eto'o football foundation -

29 May 2012

Stars in Europe - Côte d’Ivoire - Transfer - Yan Diomandé is about to become a Galáctico

Yan Diomandé

The kid from Abidjan is about to become a Galáctico.

The Path
Born in Abidjan (14 November 2006), Diomandé moved to the United States at 15 and joined DME Academy in 2022. He grew up playing in the US soccer academy system before breaking through. Trialed at Rangers, then signed for La Liga side CD Leganés at just 18. Made the €20M move to RB Leipzig in July 2025, signing through 2030. Exploded in 2025/26: double-digit goals, double-digit assists across all competitions for Leipzig.

The Breakout
Senior Ivory Coast debut in October 2025. Diomandé scored on debut in a 7:0 win over Seychelles. Four days later, he scored again vs Kenya, sealing Ivory Coast's ticket to the 2026 World Cup. One of the youngest players in Ivory Coast's World Cup history, turning heads on the biggest stage.

The Move
100M+ price tag, agreed personal terms with Real Madrid. PSG already walked away, calling it "disproportionate." Liverpool and Man City are also circling, but Real are favourites. From academy trials to the Bernabéu. Ivory Coast's next superstar is going Galáctico.
 

 

3 Aug 2026
afrofootball

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