Yakou_Méïté

Yakou Méïté

Yakou Méïté

Ivorian international footballer (born 1996)

Yakou Méïté (born 11 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Cardiff City. Born in France, he represents the Ivory Coast at international level.

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Personal life

Méïté was born and raised in France to Ivorian parents.[citation needed]

Club career

Paris Saint Germain

Méïté started his professional career at Paris Saint-Germain. He made his professional debut on 9 April 2016, in a Ligue 1 match against Guingamp, replacing Jean-Kévin Augustin after 91 minutes, in a 2–0 away win.[2]

Reading

On 29 July 2016, Méïté signed a three-year contract with English side Reading.[3] He made his debut for Reading as a substitute in an EFL Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle on 9 August 2016,[4] with his first goal for the club coming on 21 January 2017, during a 3–2 defeat to Derby County in the Championship.[5]

On 8 July 2017, Méïté moved to Sochaux, on a season-long loan deal.[6]

On 3 October 2018, Reading announced that Méïté had signed a new contract with Reading, until the summer of 2022.[7] On his return to Reading, he became a mainstay as the club's striker and scored 6 goals in 5 games, impressing manager Paul Clement.[8]

In August 2019, Méïté spoke out about racist abuse he received on social media.[9] He said he chose to do so due to the impact it had on players.[10] On 4 July 2020, he scored four goals in a 5–0 win away at Luton Town.[11]

On 17 May 2023, Reading announced that they had offered a new contact to Méïté, with his current deal due to expire at the end of June 2023.[12] On 21 June 2023, Méïté confirmed his decision to leave Reading at the end of his contract.[13]

Cardiff City

On 7 July 2023, Méïté signed a two-year contract with Cardiff City.[14]

International career

Méïté has represented the Ivory Coast U17s and U20s.[15] He debuted for the Ivory Coast U23s in a 5–0 friendly win over the Togo U23s on 27 March 2018.[16]

Méïté was called up to the senior Ivory Coast squad for a friendly against Togo in March 2018.[17] He was selected for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea on 18 November 2018.[18] He made his debut for the Ivory Coast on 26 March 2019, in a 1–0 victory over Liberia, playing 73 minutes before being replaced by eventual goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia.[19]

Style of play

Méïté is a physically strong player. He has impressive strength, ability in the air, speed and tireless stamina. Paul Clement praised him for his workrate and willingness to battle for every ball.[8]

Personal life

Yakou Meïté is the cousin of Bamo Meïté, who is also a professional footballer.[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 29 April 2023[15]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Appearance in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 13 October 2019
More information Year, Apps ...

Honours

Paris Saint-Germain U19

Paris Saint-Germain

References

  1. [1]
    "EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Guingamp vs. PSG - 9 April 2016 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. [3]
    "Royals swoop to sign Yakou Meite". reading.co.uk. Reading F.C. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  4. [4]
    "Reading 2-0 Plymouth". BBC. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. [5]
    "Derby 3-2 Reading". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Meite returns to France for loan season at Sochaux". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Méïté pens new long-term deal as a Royal". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  8. [8]
    ""Fighting spirit and attitude… Yakou has that in abundance!"". www.readingfc.co.uk.
  9. [9]
    "Yakou Meite: Reading striker calls out racist abuse". BBC Sport. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  10. [10]
    "Yakou Meite: Reading striker chose to share racist abuse to demonstrate impact on players". BBC Sport. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  11. [11]
    "Luton 0-5 Reading". BBC. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  12. [12]
    "NEW DEALS OFFERED AS CONTRACTS COME TO THEIR CONCLUSION". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  13. [13]
    "MEITE SET TO DEPART AFTER CONTRACT OFFER TURNED DOWN". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Yakou Méïté signs for Cardiff City". cardiffcityfc.co.uk/. Cardiff City F.C. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  15. [15]
    Yakou Méïté at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  16. [16]
    Ewan. "Yakou Méïté et les U23 de la Côte d'Ivoire s'imposent face au Togo". fcsochaux.fr.
  17. [17]
    "Togo vs Ivory Coast". ESPN. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  18. [18]
    "Elim. CAN 2019 (5è j. GUI/CIV): Voici les 23 Eléphants sélectionnés". fifciv.com. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  19. [19]
    "CÔTE D'IVOIRE 1-0 LIBERIA". soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  20. [20]
    "FC Lorient : l'interview selfie de Bamo Meïté". Le Télégramme (in French). 12 March 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
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