{{short description|Ivorian footballer (born 2001)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Odilon Kossounou | image = Odilon Kossounou, 2022-07-31, Saisoneröffnung Bayer 04, Leverkusen (1).jpg | image_size = | caption = Kossounou with [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] in 2022 | full_name = Kouakou Odilon Dorgeless Kossounou | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|01|04|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Abidjan]], [[Ivory Coast]] | height = 1.91 m | position = [[Centre-back]] | currentclub = [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] | clubnumber = 3 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2019 | youthclubs1 = [[ASEC Mimosas]] | years1 = 2019 | clubs1 = [[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]] | caps1 = 9 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2019–2021 | clubs2 = [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]] | caps2 = 40 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2021–2025 | clubs3 = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] | caps3 = 73 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2024–2025 | clubs4 = → [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] (loan) | caps4 = 18 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2025– | clubs5 = [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] | caps5 = 19 | goals5 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2020– | nationalteam1 = [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] | nationalcaps1 = 36 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|CIV}}}} {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}} {{Medal|Competition|[[Africa Cup of Nations]]}} {{Medal|W|[[2023 Africa Cup of Nations|2023 Ivory Coast]]|}} | club-update = 23:42, 10 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23:41, 31 March 2026 (UTC) }}
'''Kouakou Odilon Dorgeless Kossounou''' ({{IPA|fr|ɔdilɔ̃ kɔsunu|}}; born 4 January 2001), better known as '''Odilon Kossounou''', is an [[Ivory Coast|Ivorian]] professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[centre-back]] for {{Italian football updater|Atalanta}} club [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] and the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast national team]].
==Club career== ===Early career=== Kossounou started his career in the academy of [[ASEC Mimosas]] in [[Abidjan]]. After having been discovered at the youth tournament [[Gothia Cup]] in 2016, he was first invited to train with Swedish [[Allsvenskan]] club [[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]. He went on to visit the club on numerous occasions throughout the next few years.<ref name="hammarby1">{{cite web|title=Duo från Elfenbenskusten besöker Hammarby|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/duo-fran-elfenbenskusten-besoker-hammarby/|publisher=[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]|date=10 April 2017|accessdate=23 July 2021|language=Swedish|archive-date=11 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411083751/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/duo-fran-elfenbenskusten-besoker-hammarby/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="hammarby2">{{cite web|title=Odilon och "Rooney" tillbaka i Hammarby|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/odilon-och-rooney-tillbaka-i-hammarby/|publisher=[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]|date=7 January 2018|accessdate=23 July 2021|language=Swedish|archive-date=10 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202032/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/odilon-och-rooney-tillbaka-i-hammarby/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="hammarby3">{{cite web|title=Kossounou Odilon tillbaka i träning med Hammarby|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/kossounou-odilon-tillbaka-i-traning-med-hammarby/|publisher=[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]|date=22 July 2018|accessdate=23 July 2021|language=Swedish|archive-date=5 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905074545/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/kossounou-odilon-tillbaka-i-traning-med-hammarby/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="hammarby4">{{cite web|title=Odilon: En dröm att komma till Hammarby|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/45811/|publisher=[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]|date=11 January 2019|accessdate=23 July 2021|language=Swedish|archive-date=9 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109174038/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/45811/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Hammarby IF=== On 11 January 2019, shortly after his 18th birthday, Kossounou signed a four-year contract with Hammarby.<ref name="hammarby5">{{cite web|title=Kossounou Odilon på plats – avtalet påskrivet|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/odilon-kossounou-pa-plats-avtalet-paskrivet/|publisher=[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]|date=11 January 2019|accessdate=23 July 2021|language=Swedish|archive-date=9 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109175541/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/odilon-kossounou-pa-plats-avtalet-paskrivet/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his competitive debut for the club on 18 February, in the main domestic cup [[Svenska Cupen]], providing an assist to Mats Solhem in a 3–0 win against [[Varbergs BoIS]].<ref name="hammarby6">{{cite web|title=Smakstart med sagoslut i cuppremiären|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/smakstart-med-sagoslut-i-cuppremiaren/|publisher=[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]|date=19 February 2019|accessdate=23 July 2021|language=Swedish|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723135846/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/smakstart-med-sagoslut-i-cuppremiaren/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kossounou went on to make nine league appearances in Allsvenskan for the club, most notably being voted man of the match in a 2–2 home draw against [[IFK Norrköping]].<ref name="hammarby7">{{cite web|title=Matchens Lirare i Bajen mot Norrköping: Odilon Kossounou|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/matchens-lirare-i-bajen-mot-norrkoping-odilon-kossounou/|publisher=[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]]|date=27 May 2019|accessdate=23 July 2021|language=Swedish|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723134343/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/matchens-lirare-i-bajen-mot-norrkoping-odilon-kossounou/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 8 May 2019, Hammarby reached an agreement with Belgian side [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]] for the transfer of Kossonou, effective on 1 July the same year.<ref name="transfer">{{cite web|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/odilon-klar-for-club-brugge/|title=Odilon klar för Club Brügge|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|date=8 May 2019|access-date=23 July 2021|language=sv|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001026/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/odilon-klar-for-club-brugge/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The club received a record-breaking fee for the player, reportedly for a fee of around €4 million (or 44 million SEK) that could rise higher subject to bonuses, plus a 10 percent sell-on clause.<ref name="recordfee1">{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/klart-hammarby-saljer-backen-for-rekordsumma/|title=Klart – Hammarby säljer backen för rekordsumma|publisher=[[Expressen]]|date=6 May 2019|access-date=23 July 2021|language=sv}}</ref><ref name="recordfee2">{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/g74ad1/det-skulle-till-nagot-exceptionellt-pa-bordet|title="Det skulle till något exceptionellt på bordet"|publisher=[[Aftonbladet]]|date=8 May 2019|access-date=23 July 2021|language=sv}}</ref>
===Club Brugge=== On 1 July 2019, Kossounou completed his transfer to [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]]. In his first [[2019–20 Club Brugge KV season|season]] at the club, Kossounou picked up a league winner's medal as Club Brugge were declared champions in April 2020 with the [[Belgian First Division A|Pro League]] being cut short by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium]].<ref name=Pro>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/dennis-and-taus-club-brugge-declared-belgian-champions/x4n0saswud8514v2nc7k11xm4|title=Dennis and Tau's Club Brugge declared Belgian champions|website=Goal|date=15 May 2020|accessdate=21 March 2021}}</ref>
===Bayer Leverkusen=== On 22 July 2021, Kossounou joined [[Bundesliga]] club [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] on a five-year deal for a reported €23 million fee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/bayer-04-sign-ivorian-international-kossounou|title=Bayer 04 sign Ivorian international Kossounou|publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen|date=22 July 2021|access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>
===Atalanta=== On 28 August 2024, Kossounou joined [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] in Italy on loan with an option to buy.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Atalanta|url=https://en.atalanta.it/news/a-starting-xi-of-signings-here-s-kossounou-to-shore-up-the-defence|title=A starting XI of signings: here's Kossounou to shore up the defence|date=28 August 2024|access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref> On 14 June 2025, after his loan ended, Atalanta decided to buy Kossounou, signing a four-year contract with the Italian club.<ref>{{cite web|website=onefootball.com|url=https://onefootball.com/fr/news/official-odilon-kossounou-joins-atalanta-41242359|title=Official Odilon Kossounou joins Atalanta|date=14 June 2025|access-date=14 June 2025}}</ref>
==International career== Kossounou debuted with the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast national team]] in a 1–1 friendly draw with [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] on 8 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2020/10/08/world/friendlies/belgium/cote-divoire/3398187/|title=Belgium vs. Côte d'Ivoire – 8 October 2020 – Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com}}</ref>
Kossounou was a member of the Ivory Coast's squad for the [[2021 Africa Cup of Nations]] and made two appearances, starting once in a 3–1 win over [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] in the [[2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group E|group stage]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59975483|title=Afcon 2021: Holders Algeria crash out after Ivory Coast defeat|date=20 January 2022|access-date=16 January 2024|website=ESPN}}</ref>
In December 2023, Kossounou was named in the Ivory Coast's squad for the [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/federationivoiriennedefootball/posts/pfbid02GVkTYXjhv2yBQizHRNxngTGoMrFLXgcUg3kQeXgEk3gZ158w6cxqRFjDBXCCU3ihl|title=LA LISTE|publisher=[[Ivorian Football Federation]]|date=28 December 2023|access-date=16 January 2024|language=pt|via=[[Facebook]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cafonline.com/media/ow2obxrw/c%C3%B4te-divoire.pdf|title=CÔTE D'IVOIRE|publisher=Confederation of African Football|date=5 January 2024}}</ref> He went on to start three games, including the [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations final|final]] where [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] won against [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] by a score of 2–1.
== Playing style == Kossounou prevalently plays primarily as [[centre-back]] but can also play as a [[right-back]], and excels in his tackling: his long limbs and the excellent timing of his interventions gives him one of the highest tackle success ratios in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=12 January 2021|title=Wonderkids: Odilon Kossounou|url=https://soccerment.com/wonderkids-odilon-kossounou/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Soccerment}}</ref>
==Outside football== In 2020, Kossounou was the subject of a TV-documentary on Swedish television titled "Det vackra spelet" (The beautiful game), that for three years followed him on his transfer to Hammarby and then on to Club Brugge.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svtplay.se/video/26020888/det-vackra-spelet | title=Det vackra spelet | date=22 March 2020}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 10 May 2026}}<ref>{{Soccerway|kossonou-odilon/591862|access-date=9 May 2019}}</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 [[Svenska Cupen]], [[Belgian Cup]], [[DFB-Pokal]], [[Coppa Italia]]}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |[[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby IF]] |[[2019 Allsvenskan|2019]] |[[Allsvenskan]] |9||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- |rowspan="4"|[[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]] |[[2019–20 Club Brugge KV season|2019–20]] |[[Belgian Pro League]] |7||0||1||0||4{{efn|Two appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], two appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||12||0 |- |[[2020–21 Club Brugge KV season|2020–21]] |Belgian Pro League |33||1||2||0||7{{efn|Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||42||1 |- |[[2021–22 Club Brugge KV season|2021–22]] |Belgian Pro League |0||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Belgian Super Cup]]}}||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !40!!1!!3!!0!!11!!0!!1!!0!!55!!1 |- |rowspan="4"|[[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] |[[2021–22 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2021–22]] |[[Bundesliga]] |27||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||33||0 |- |[[2022–23 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2022–23]] |Bundesliga |24||0||1||0||10{{efn|Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||35||0 |- |[[2023–24 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2023–24]] |Bundesliga |22||1||4||0||8{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||34||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !73!!1!!6!!0!!23!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!102!!1 |- |[[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] (loan) |[[2024–25 Atalanta BC season|2024–25]] |[[Serie A]] |18||0||0||0||4{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||0||23||0 |- |rowspan="2"|Atalanta |[[2025–26 Atalanta BC season|2025–26]] |Serie A |19||1||3||0||10{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||32||1 |- !colspan="2"|Atalanta total !37!!1!!3!!0!!14!!0!!1!!0!!55!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !159!!3!!16!!0!!48!!0!!2!!0!!225!!3 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 31 March 2026}}<ref name="nft">{{NFT|79713}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="7"|[[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] |2020||4||0 |- |2021||7||0 |- |2022||5||0 |- |2023||2||0 |- |2024||7||0 |- |2025||8||0 |- |2026||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||36||0 |}
==Honours== '''Club Brugge''' * [[Belgian Pro League]]: [[2019–20 Belgian First Division A|2019–20]],<ref name=Pro /> [[2020–21 Belgian First Division A|2020–21]] * [[Belgian Super Cup]]: [[2021 Belgian Super Cup|2021]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/07/17/belgium/super-cup/club-brugge-kv/krc-genk/3512452/|title=Club Brugge vs. Gent 3–2|website=Soccerway|date=17 July 2021}}</ref>
'''Bayer Leverkusen''' * [[Bundesliga]]: [[2023–24 Bundesliga|2023–24]]<ref>{{cite news |date=15 April 2024 |title=Bayer Leverkusen are 2023/24 Bundesliga champions! |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/bayer-leverkusen-are-2023-24-bundesliga-champions-26930 |access-date=15 April 2024 |publisher=Bundesliga}}</ref> * [[DFB-Pokal]]: [[2023–24 DFB-Pokal|2023–24]] * [[DFL-Supercup]]: [[2024 DFL-Supercup|2024]]<ref>{{cite news |date=17 August 2024 |title=Bayer Leverkusen battle back to beat VfB Stuttgart on penalties in Supercup |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/bayer-leverkusen-vfb-stuttgart-supercup-preview-live-blog-report-alonso-28479 |access-date=17 August 2024 |publisher=Bundesliga}}</ref>
'''Ivory Coast''' * [[Africa Cup of Nations]]: [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations|2023]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Stevens |first=Rob |date=11 February 2024 |title=Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68196261 |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Soccerway}} * {{NFT_player|79713}}
{{Atalanta BC squad}} {{Navboxes | title = Ivory Coast squads | bg = #F77F00 | fg = white | bordercolor = #009E60 | list = {{Ivory Coast squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{Ivory Coast squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{Ivory Coast squad 2025 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{Ivory Coast squad 2026 FIFA World Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kossounou, Odilon}} [[Category:2001 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Ivorian men's footballers]] [[Category:Footballers from Abidjan]] [[Category:Ivory Coast men's international footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football central defenders]] [[Category:Men's association football full-backs]] [[Category:Hammarby Fotboll players]] [[Category:Club Brugge KV players]] [[Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players]] [[Category:Atalanta BC players]] [[Category:Allsvenskan players]] [[Category:Belgian Pro League players]] [[Category:Bundesliga players]] [[Category:Serie A players]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Sweden]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]] [[Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players]] [[Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players]] [[Category:2025 Africa Cup of Nations players]] [[Category:2026 FIFA World Cup players]] [[Category:Africa Cup of Nations–winning players]] [[Category:21st-century Ivorian sportsmen]]