Souleymane Coulibaly

Souleymane Coulibaly (born 26 December 1994) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for English non-league club Pickering Town.

Early life

As a 13-year-old, Coulibaly emigrated to Italy to avoid conflict in Ivory Coast. He joined his father who had married an Italian woman.

Club career

Siena

Soon after arriving in Italy, Coulibaly signed for Junior Camp Arezzo Football Academy, one of the best academies in Tuscany. He played in the Allievi Regionali team and after a few months President Umberto Zerbini suggested his name to Siena. In 2010–11 he played 10 games for the Siena under-19s, scoring once.

Tottenham Hotspur

On 18 July 2011, Tottenham Hotspur confirmed they had signed Coulibaly following his golden boot-winning performance at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. He scored for the Tottenham Hotspur XI on his debut against Brighton and Hove Albion in Algarve.

He scored twice in a 7–1 win for Spurs youth over Inter Milan in their second group game of the NextGen Tournament on 31 August 2011. He also opened the scoring in their third group game away at PSV Eindhoven, where they won 2–1. On 22 December 2011, Coulibaly scored an injury-time winner against Stevenage in the FA Youth Cup, followed by a goal in a 2–1 victory over Cardiff City in the fourth round on 11 January 2012. He made his first team debut as a 65th-minute substitute in a pre-season friendly against Stevenage on 18 July 2012.

Grosseto (loan)

On 25 January 2013, Coulibaly joined Italian Serie B club Grosseto on loan until the end of the season where he scored two goals from 12 appearances.

Bari

In September 2014, Coulibaly was sold to Bari and was immediately loaned to Pistoiese.

Peterborough United

Coulibaly was revealed as a Peterborough United player after his trial at the club on 20 July 2015 along with Andrew Fox and Kieran Sadlier. He started in five games for Peterborough, came on nine times as a substitute, and scored a total of eight goals. On 24 March 2016, he joined Newport County on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season. He made his Newport debut on 2 April 2016, starting in a win 1–0 defeat versus Yeovil Town. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 April 2016 against Luton Town.

Kilmarnock

After leaving Peterborough United it was confirmed in June 2016 that Coulibaly had signed for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock F.C., Kilmarnock. He scored on his debut as Kilmarnock beat Clyde F.C., Clyde 2–1 in the Scottish League Cup, League Cup. Coulibaly scored 11 goals in 26 appearances for Kilmarnock.

Al Ahly

After being in talks with two clubs based in Cairo, Egypt, Al Ahly SC, Al Ahly and Zamalek SC, Zamalek, Coulibaly chose to sign with reigning champions Al Ahly on a three-and-a-half-year contract on 24 January 2017. A transfer fee of £800,000 was paid to Kilmarnock. On 25 May 2017, Coulibaly left Egypt and returned to the UK without telling anyone. On 4 June 2017, Coulibaly posted on Twitter, saying that he had felt oppressed at Al Ahly and had left Egypt because he did not feel safe. After the tweet other African players that played for Al Ahly said that they felt safe and happy, such as Flávio Amado who said "what Coulibaly said made him laugh". Al-Ahly submitted a complaint to FIFA after Coulibaly left the club and requested compensation. On 25 April 2018, a FIFA commission found against Coulibaly, ruling that a fine of $1,436,000 be awarded to Al Ahly.

Partick Thistle

In August 2018, Coulibaly joined Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle F.C, Partick Thistle on a deal that is subject to international clearance. The Egyptian Football Association rejected a request for clearance, but FIFA granted a temporary certificate instead in early October. He was released by Partick Thistle in May 2019.

Etoile SS

In May 2019 he signed for Tunisian club Étoile Sportive du Sahel, Etoile SS.

ES Sétif

On 19 August 2023, Coulibaly joined ES Sétif. On 19 February 2024, he left ES Sétif.

Hull United AFC

In October 2024 he appeared off the bench for Humber Premier League side Hull United A.F.C., Hull United versus Hornsea Town, replacing striker Alfie Lazenby. A week later he started his first game for the club in an East Riding Senior Cup tie versus Bridlington Town A.F.C., Bridlington Town, who were three divisions above and the current holders of the cup. Coulibaly scored a 84th minute equaliser for The Citizens to set up a penalty shoot out, which United went on to win 4-5, Coulibaly also scoring one of them.

International career

Souleymane Coulibaly began his international career with Ivory Coast national under-17 football team at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he scored nine Scoring in association football, goals in four matches: one goal against Australia national under-17 football team, Australia, a poker against Denmark national under-17 football team, Denmark, and a hat-trick in a draw against Brazil national under-17 football team, Brazil. Coulibaly also scored a goal in a 2–3 loss to France national under-17 football team, France in the Round of 16. He held the competition record for most goals scored in one tournament along with French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle (at the earlier held 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship), who did it in six matches rather than Coulibaly's four. He scored nine of his side's ten goals overall, which meant that he scored every 40 minutes of match time, or slightly more than once per half played. The record has since been broken by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who scored 10 goals in 7 games at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, 2015 World Cup.

As a result of his performances, Coulibaly was linked in the media to moves to Manchester United F.C., Manchester United and Real Madrid C.F., Real Madrid, before finally moving to Tottenham Hotspur FC, Tottenham. He has been labelled the "New Drogba" by the media, in reference to fellow Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba.

Coulibaly made one appearance for the Ivory Coast national under-21 football team, as they lost a friendly 5–1 to France national under-21 football team, France.

Career statistics

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coulibaly, Souleymane
1994 births
Living people
Footballers from Lagunes District
Ivorian men's footballers
Men's association football forwards
Ivory Coast men's youth international footballers
Serie B players
English Football League players
Scottish Professional Football League players
Egyptian Premier League players
Cypriot First Division players
Siena FC SSD players
Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
US Grosseto 1912 players
SSC Bari players
FC Pistoiese SSD players
Peterborough United F.C. players
Newport County A.F.C. players
Kilmarnock F.C. players
Partick Thistle F.C. players
Al Ahly SC players
Étoile Sportive du Sahel players
Karmiotissa FC players
Ivorian expatriate men's footballers
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in England
Expatriate men's footballers in England
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Wales
Expatriate men's footballers in Wales
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Egypt
Expatriate men's footballers in Egypt
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Tunisia
Expatriate men's footballers in Tunisia
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Algeria
Expatriate men's footballers in Algeria
Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus
Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus
21st-century Ivorian sportsmen