{{Short description|Ivorian footballer (born 2002)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox football biography |name = David Datro Fofana |image = |image_size = |caption = |full_name = David Datro Fofana<ref name="SW"/> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|12|22|df=y}}<ref name="SW"/> |birth_place = Ouragahio, Ivory Coast |height = 1.81m<ref>{{cite web |title=David Datro Fofana: Overview |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/112581/David-Datro-Fofana/overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=2 April 2023}}</ref> |position = Forward |currentclub = Chelsea) |clubnumber = |youthyears1 = 2018–2019 |youthclubs1 = Abidjan City |years1 = 2019–2021 |clubs1 = Abidjan City |caps1 = |goals1 = |years2 = 2019–2020 |clubs2 = → AFAD (loan) |caps2 = |goals2 = |years3 = 2021–2022 |clubs3 = Molde |caps3 = 42 |goals3 = 15 |years4 = 2023– |clubs4 = Chelsea |caps4 = 3 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 2023–2024 |clubs5 = → Union Berlin (loan) |caps5 = 12 |goals5 = 1 |years6 = 2024 |clubs6 = → Burnley (loan) |caps6 = 15 |goals6 = 4 |years7 = 2024–2025 |clubs7 = → Göztepe (loan) |caps7 = 9 |goals7 = 2 |years8 = 2025–2026 |clubs8 = → Fatih Karagümrük (loan) |caps8 = 13 |goals8 = 6 |years9 = 2026 |clubs9 = → Strasbourg (loan) |caps9 = 5 |goals9 = 0 |nationalyears1 = 2023 |nationalteam1 = Ivory Coast U23 |nationalcaps1 = 3 |nationalgoals1 = 1 |nationalyears2 = 2019–2022 |nationalteam2 = Ivory Coast |nationalcaps2 = 3 |nationalgoals2 = 0 |pcupdate = 10:10, 20 April 2026 (UTC) |ntupdate = 21:10, 28 September 2025 (UTC) }}
'''David Datro Fofana''' (born 22 December 2002) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Chelsea.
==Club career== ===Early career=== Fofana began his career in the Ivory Coast with Abidjan City, before joining AFAD on loan in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/datro-fofana-six-quick-facts-about-chelsea-s-ivory-coast-wonderkid/blt4139d4d744d820fc#cscabc71f2b317eeae|title=Datro Fofana: Six quick facts about Chelsea's Ivory Coast wonderkid|first=Kiplagat|last=Sang|date=22 December 2022|accessdate=8 January 2023|website=goal.com}}</ref> He was heavily scouted by French, Belgian and Norwegian clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ould-Saada |first=Arilas Berg |date=2021-02-11 |title=Fransk klubb bød 10 mill. for afrikansk stjerneskudd - Molde fikk ham «gratis» |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/6zX37o/fransk-klubb-boed-10-mill-for-afrikansk-stjerneskudd-molde-fikk-ham-gratis |access-date= |website=VG |language=no}}</ref> On 2 February 2021, Fofana signed a professional contract with Norwegian club Molde on a free transfer, signing for four years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moldefk.no/david-fofana-er-na-klar-for-molde-fk|title=David Fofana er nå klar for Molde FK|website=Molde|access-date=19 February 2021|archive-date=7 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807121202/https://www.moldefk.no/david-fofana-er-na-klar-for-molde-fk|url-status=dead}}</ref> He debuted with Molde in a 3–3 UEFA Europa League tie with Hoffenheim on 18 February 2021, scoring his side's third goal in the 74th minute.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/02/18/europe/uefa-cup/molde-fotballklubb/tsg-1899-hoffenheim-ev/3431901/|title=Molde vs. Hoffenheim - 18 February 2021|website=Soccerway}}</ref>
===Chelsea=== On 28 December 2022, it was announced that Fofana would join English Premier League side Chelsea on 1 January 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=David Datro Fofana agreement|url= https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-datro-fofana-agreement |publisher=Chelsea F.C. |date=28 December 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}}</ref> On 8 January 2023, Fofana came off the bench to make his Chelsea debut in a 4–0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite web |last=Aarons |first=Ed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/13/david-datro-fofana-chelsea-abidjan-city-claim-molde-stole-him |title=David Datro Fofana: Chelsea player's first club claim Molde 'stole' him |work=The Guardian |date=13 January 2023 }}</ref>
====Loan to Union Berlin==== On 11 July 2023, Chelsea announced that Fofana would join Bundesliga side Union Berlin on a season-long loan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Fofana leaves Chelsea on loan |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-fofana-leaves-chelsea-on-loan |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=www.chelseafc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> He was recalled by Chelsea on 11 January 2024.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-fofana-recalled-from-union-berlin-loan|title=David Fofana recalled from Union Berlin loan|website=www.chelseafc.com|date=11 January 2024|accessdate=11 January 2024}}</ref>
====Loan to Burnley==== Two days after returning to Chelsea, Fofana was loaned to fellow Premier League club Burnley until the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 2024 |title=Fofana joins Burnley on loan |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-fofana-joins-burnley-on-loan |access-date=13 January 2024 |publisher=Chelsea FC |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 2024 |title=Fofana checks in at Turf Moor |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/fofana-checks-in-on-loan |access-date=13 January 2024 |publisher=Burnley FC |language=en}}</ref> On 3 February 2024, he scored his first goals for Burnley by netting a brace in a 2–2 draw against Fulham.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68115069 |title=Burnley 2–2 Fulham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 February 2024 }}</ref> On 21 May 2024, Burnley confirmed the player was returning to Chelsea.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLUB CONFIRM RETAINED LIST {{!}} BurnleyFC |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/club-confirm-retained-list |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.burnleyfootballclub.com |language=en}}</ref>
====Loan to Göztepe==== On 13 September 2024, Fofana was loaned to newly-promoted Turkish club Göztepe until the end of the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=David Fofana completes loan move |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-fofana-completes-loan-move |access-date=13 September 2024 |date=13 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=David Datro Fofana Göztepe'mizde |url=https://www.goztepe.org.tr/Haberler/futbol/2024/9/13/david-datro-fofana-goztepe-mizde |publisher=Göztepe |access-date=13 September 2024 |language=Turkish |date=13 September 2024 }}</ref> On 3 February 2025, Chelsea recalled Fofana back from his loan due to an injury keeping him out for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Fofana returns to Chelsea |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-fofana-returns-to-chelsea |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=www.chelseafc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
====Loan to Fatih Karagümrük==== On 13 September 2025, Fofana was loaned to another newly-promoted Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük until the end of the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Datro Fofana completes loan switch to Turkey |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-datro-fofana-completes-loan-switch-to-turkey |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=www.chelseafc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
====Loan to Strasbourg==== On 2 February 2026, Fofana signed for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg on loan for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=David Fofana completes loan move |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/david-fofana-completes-loan-move-strasbourg |access-date=2 February 2026 |publisher=Chelsea FC |date=2 February 2026}}</ref>
==International career== Fofana made his international debut with the Ivory Coast national team in a 2–0 CHAN 2020 loss to Niger on 22 September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fr.cafonline.com/news-center/news/chan-2020-le-niger-barre-la-route-a-la-cote-d-ivoire|title=CHAN 2020 : le Niger barre la route à la Côte d'Ivoire|first=CAF-Confedération Africaine du|last=Football|website=CAFOnline.com}}</ref> On 22 March 2023, Fofana was the captain of the Ivory Coast's U23 national team in a friendly game against Morocco U23, which Ivory Coast won 3–2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=@DatroDavid |url=https://twitter.com/DatroDavid/status/1638779450174107650?cxt=HHwWhMCzjcbOjr4tAAAA |access-date=10 April 2023 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>
== Career statistics == === Club === {{updated|match played 22 April 2026}}<ref name="SW">{{Soccerway|david-datro-fofana/681300}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Norwegian Cup, FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Turkish Cup, Coupe de France}} !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Molde |2021 |Eliteserien |18||0||3||1||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||1||26||2 |- |2022 |Eliteserien |24||15||5||3||colspan="2"|—||10{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||4||39||22 |- !colspan="2"|Total !42!!15!!8!!4!!colspan="2"|—!!15!!5!!65!!24 |- |Chelsea |2022–23 |Premier League |3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||4||0 |- |Union Berlin (loan) |2023–24 |Bundesliga |12||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||1||17||2 |- |Burnley (loan) |2023–24 |Premier League |15||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||15||4 |- |Göztepe (loan) |2024–25 |Süper Lig |9||2||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||9||2 |- |Fatih Karagümrük (loan) |2025–26 |Süper Lig |13||6||2||2||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||15||8 |- |Strasbourg (loan) |2025–26 |Ligue 1 |5||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in UEFA Conference League}}||0||9||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !99!!28!!15!!6!!0!!0!!20!!6!!134!!40 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 19 November 2022}}<ref>{{NFT player|79494|access-date=28 December 2022}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team !Year !Apps !Goals |- |rowspan=2|Ivory Coast |2019||1||0 |- |2022||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!3!!0 |}
==Honours== '''Molde''' * Eliteserien: 2022 * Norwegian Cup: 2021–22
'''Individual''' *Eliteserien Young Player of the Month: July 2022<ref>{{cite web|title=Er det en heldig vinner?|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=5393166877432551&set=a.1178712478878033|website=Facebook|language=no|publisher=Eliteserien|date=30 August 2022|access-date=19 September 2025}}</ref> *Turkish Football Federation Fair Play Behavior Award of the Month October 2025<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haberturk.com/fair-play-odulu-fofana-nin-oldu-3835802-spor?page=2|title=TFF Fair Play ödülü Fofana'nın oldu!|date=6 December 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/david-datro-fofana Profile] at the Chelsea F.C. website * {{Soccerway|david-datro-fofana/681300}} * [http://ntf-mol.customer.enonic.io/lag/david-datro-fofana Molde FK profile]{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{NFT|79494}} * {{UEFA player}}
{{Chelsea F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fofana, David Datro}} Category:2002 births Category:People from Gagnoa Category:Footballers from Gôh-Djiboua District Category:Living people Category:21st-century Ivorian sportsmen Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Ivorian men's footballers Category:Ivory Coast men's under-20 international footballers Category:Ivory Coast men's international footballers Category:Molde FK players Category:Chelsea F.C. players Category:1. FC Union Berlin players Category:Burnley F.C. players Category:Göztepe S.K. footballers Category:RC Strasbourg Alsace players Category:Ligue 1 (Ivory Coast) players Category:Eliteserien players Category:Premier League players Category:Bundesliga players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Ivorian expatriate men's footballers Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Norway Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in France Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France