Ismael Kone

Tall Canadian central midfielder born in Ivory Coast who moved to Canada at age seven. A two-time Canada Soccer Young Player of the Year, he progressed through CF Montréal, Watford, and Marseille before joining Sassuolo in Serie A.

Koné joined CF Montréal's academy after settling in Canada and made his professional debut in 2021. His performances earned him a move to English Championship side Watford in December 2022 on a four-and-a-half-year deal, where he made 63 appearances and established himself in European football.

He moved to Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille on a permanent basis in June 2024, then transferred to Sassuolo in Serie A in 2025. He has earned 40 caps for Canada and scored 4 international goals, making his debut on 24 March 2022 against Costa Rica.