# Arouna Koné
**Arouna Koné** (born 1983 in Anyama, Côte d'Ivoire) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a forward for clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, England, and Turkey, and represented the [Ivory Coast](https://www.edgepedia.org/ivory-coast) national team, including at the 2006 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup)[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/arouna-kone/224456) • [2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone). Across his domestic-league career he made 399 appearances for 8 squads, scoring 113 goals with 53 assists[3](https://fbref.com/en/stathead/player_comparison.cgi?comp_type=by_type&dom_lg=1&player_id1=f9a72ca4&player_id2=21a66f6a&player_id3=919f5f54&player_id4=5b92d896&player_id5=3260690c&player_id6=7ca196eb&request=1&show_form=1&sum=0). He won the [Eredivisie](https://www.edgepedia.org/eredivisie) twice with PSV Eindhoven, the Supercopa de España with Sevilla, and the 2013 FA Cup with Wigan Athletic[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Anyama, Côte d'Ivoire; 1.81 m, 81 kg, right-footed forward[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/arouna-kone/224456) • [2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone) |
| Domestic-league career | 399 matches, 113 goals, 53 assists, 8 squads[3](https://fbref.com/en/stathead/player_comparison.cgi?comp_type=by_type&dom_lg=1&player_id1=f9a72ca4&player_id2=21a66f6a&player_id3=919f5f54&player_id4=5b92d896&player_id5=3260690c&player_id6=7ca196eb&request=1&show_form=1&sum=0) |
| Trophies | Eredivisie 2005/06 and 2006/07 (PSV); Supercopa de España 2007/08 (Sevilla); FA Cup 2012/13 (Wigan Athletic)[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone) |
| Breakout season | Levante loan, 2011–12: 17 goals in 39 matches, helping Levante to a 6th-place La Liga finish[4](https://as.com/futbol/2020/10/09/primera/1602265209_253866.html) |
| Everton | July 2013 to June 2017, 62 appearances, 10 goals[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone) |
| Sivasspor | July 2017 to June 2021, 134 appearances, 34 goals[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone) |
| National team | Ivory Coast, January 2004 to June 2013; one World Cup (Germany 2006)[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/arouna-kone/224456) |
## Early life
Koné grew up in Anyama, a suburb of Abidjan, in a large family: his father had three wives and, in total, fifteen children, and the family slept together on the floor of the living room of a three-room apartment[5](https://www.vi.nl/pro/welkom-in-de-bruisende-voetbalreis-van-arouna-kone). At 18 he emigrated from Ivory Coast to Belgium, signing for Lierse of the Belgian first division in 2002, where his fast, powerful play drew attention[6](https://elpais.com/diario/2011/09/20/deportes/1316469607_850215.html).
## Netherlands: Roda JC and PSV
From 2003 to 2005 Koné played for [Roda JC Kerkrade](https://www.edgepedia.org/roda-jc-kerkrade), then moved to [PSV Eindhoven](https://www.edgepedia.org/psv-eindhoven), first on loan in 2005–06 and then permanently[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone). He won the Eredivisie in both 2005/06 and 2006/07 with PSV, and played in the [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) there[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone) • [7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). In a later interview he named PSV, alongside Levante and Wigan, as one of the three clubs where he played his best football without injury[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone).
## Spain: Sevilla, Hannover, and Levante
Sevilla signed Koné from PSV in 2007 for 12 million euros, at that point the second most expensive signing in the club's history after [Álvaro Negredo](https://www.edgepedia.org/alvaro-negredo)'s 17 million[6](https://elpais.com/diario/2011/09/20/deportes/1316469607_850215.html). His time there was marked by serious injuries: in August 2008, in a friendly with his national team, he suffered a rupture of all the knee ligaments and the meniscus, and in the spring of 2010, on loan at [Hannover 96](https://www.edgepedia.org/hannover-96), his knee broke down again[6](https://elpais.com/diario/2011/09/20/deportes/1316469607_850215.html). He also contracted malaria during his Sevilla years[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). He made 47 league appearances for Sevilla across 2007 to 2010, scoring twice[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone), and won the [Supercopa de España](https://www.edgepedia.org/supercopa-de-espana) in 2007/08[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone).
His loan at Levante in 2011–12 revived his career. He scored 17 goals in 39 matches that season[4](https://as.com/futbol/2020/10/09/primera/1602265209_253866.html), including the winner against Real Madrid, and played a large part in Levante's 6th-place [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga) finish[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). Reporting from the time held that Levante had to stop selecting him at one stage because a contract clause would have obliged him to return to Sevilla had he reached 18 league goals[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). Koné said he did not want to go back, telling [El País](https://www.edgepedia.org/el-pais) that Sevilla had never given him the chance to succeed[6](https://elpais.com/diario/2011/09/20/deportes/1316469607_850215.html).
## England: Wigan Athletic and Everton
Koné joined Wigan Athletic in August 2012 and spent one season there, scoring 11 Premier League goals in a season that ended with both the club's highest high and lowest low: winning the [FA Cup Final](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup-final) at Wembley against Manchester City, and relegation from the Premier League[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone) • [7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). He called winning the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) with a small club the highlight of his career[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone).
Days after [Roberto Martínez](https://www.edgepedia.org/roberto-martinez) became Everton manager in 2013, he made Koné his first signing at [Goodison Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/goodison-park), for around £6 million[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). A knee injury in an October 2013 appearance against Hull ended his season, and in November 2013 he needed extensive knee surgery and a long rehabilitation; rumors circulated that he might never play again[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). His full Everton debut came in December 2014, away to Newcastle, almost 18 months after he signed, and he scored inside five minutes[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). In November 2015 he scored a hat-trick in a 6–2 win over Sunderland, partnering Romelu Lukaku, and the match triggered a one-year contract extension through a clause tied to his 35th Everton appearance[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). He finished with 62 Everton appearances and 10 goals[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone).
## Turkey: Sivasspor
In July 2017 Koné moved on a free transfer to Sivasspor in Turkey's Süper Lig, his final club, staying until June 2021 and making 134 appearances with 34 goals[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone). In 2020–21, his last season, he played 38 matches in all competitions for Sivasspor, scoring 4 goals[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/arouna-kone/224456). With Sivasspor he reached European competition, facing Villarreal in the club's first Europa League campaign[4](https://as.com/futbol/2020/10/09/primera/1602265209_253866.html).
## International career
Koné played for the Ivory Coast from January 2004 to June 2013[2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone). He appeared at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, his only World Cup[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/arouna-kone/224456), and at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, where he played in the group match against Morocco[8](https://www.11v11.com/players/arouna-kon%C3%A9-49886/).
## Personal life and recognition
Koné is a devout Muslim who observed Ramadan while playing, organizing his diet to sustain training and matches during fasting[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). He was known on the pitch for his bleached blonde hair and for often wearing the number 2 shirt as a striker[5](https://www.vi.nl/pro/welkom-in-de-bruisende-voetbalreis-van-arouna-kone). In 2013 he founded the Arouna Kone Foundation, with the aim of providing academic, social, and physical education to children, young people, and adults in the Ivorian community[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone). He has named Roberto Martínez, his coach at both Wigan and Everton, as the best coach of his career, describing him as like a big brother[7](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone).
## References
1. [Arouna Koné – joueur de football, L'Équipe](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/arouna-kone/224456)
2. [Arouna Koné – stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/players/30922/arouna-kone)
3. [Player Comparison: Arouna Koné career, FBref.com](https://fbref.com/en/stathead/player_comparison.cgi?comp_type=by_type&dom_lg=1&player_id1=f9a72ca4&player_id2=21a66f6a&player_id3=919f5f54&player_id4=5b92d896&player_id5=3260690c&player_id6=7ca196eb&request=1&show_form=1&sum=0)
4. [Koné: "El objetivo de Monchi es que el Sevilla gane la Champions", AS.com](https://as.com/futbol/2020/10/09/primera/1602265209_253866.html)
5. [Welkom in de bruisende voetbalreis van Arouna Koné, Voetbal International](https://www.vi.nl/pro/welkom-in-de-bruisende-voetbalreis-van-arouna-kone)
6. [La resurrección de Arouna Koné, El País](https://elpais.com/diario/2011/09/20/deportes/1316469607_850215.html)
7. [Arouna Kone Interview, Obstructed View](https://www.obstructedview.org/kone)
8. [Arouna Koné Football Player Statistics, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/players/arouna-kon%C3%A9-49886/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Africa › West African footballers › Ghanaian and Ivorian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license