David Datro Fofana

David Datro Fofana (born 22 December 2002) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Chelsea, and the Ivory Coast national team.

David Datro Fofana

Personal information
Full name	David Datro Fofana[1]
Date of birth	(2002-12-22) 22 December 2002 (age 22)[1]
Place of birth	Ouragahio, Ivory Coast
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Chelsea
Youth career
2018–2019	Abidjan City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	Abidjan City
2019–2020	→ AFAD (loan)
2021–2022	Molde	42	(15)
2023–	Chelsea	3	(0)
2023–2024	→ Union Berlin (loan)	12	(1)
2024	→ Burnley (loan)	15	(4)
2024–2025	→ Göztepe (loan)	9	(2)
International career‡
2023–	Ivory Coast U23	3	(1)
2019–2022	Ivory Coast	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:10, 7 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 July 2023

Club career

Early career

Fofana began his career in the Ivory Coast with Abidjan City, before joining AFAD on loan in 2019.^[3] He was heavily scouted by French, Belgian and Norwegian clubs.^[4] On 2 February 2021, Fofana signed a professional contract with Norwegian club Molde on a free transfer, signing for four years.^[5] 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.^[6]

Chelsea

On 28 December 2022, it was announced that Fofana would join English Premier League side Chelsea on 1 January 2023.^[7] 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.^[8]

Loan to Union Berlin

On 11 July 2023, Chelsea announced that Fofana would join Bundesliga side Union Berlin on a season-long loan. ^[9] He was recalled by Chelsea on 11 January 2024.^[10]

Loan to Burnley

Two days after returning to Chelsea, Fofana was loaned to fellow Premier League club Burnley until the end of the season.^[11][12] On 3 February 2024, he scored his first goals for Burnley by netting a brace in a 2–2 draw against Fulham.^[13] On 21 May 2024, Burnley confirmed the player was returning to Chelsea.^[14]

Loan to Göztepe

On 13 September 2024, Fofana was loaned to newly-promoted Turkish club Göztepe until the end of the 2024–25 season.^[15][16]

On 3 February 2025, Chelsea recalled Fofana back from his loan due to an injury keeping him out for the remainder of the season.^[17]

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.^[18] 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.^[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 December 2024^[1]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Molde	2021	Eliteserien	18	0	3	1	—		5[b]	1	26	2
	2022	Eliteserien	24	15	5	3	—		10[c]	4	39	22
	Total		42	15	8	4	—		15	5	65	24
Chelsea	2022–23	Premier League	3	0	1	0	—		0	0	4	0
Union Berlin (loan)	2023–24	Bundesliga	12	1	1	0	—		4[d]	1	17	2
Burnley (loan)	2023–24	Premier League	15	4	—		—		—		15	4
Göztepe (loan)	2024–25	Süper Lig	9	2	0	0	—		—		9	2
Career total			81	22	10	4	0	0	19	6	110	32

1. Includes Norwegian Cup, FA Cup, DFB-Pokal
2. Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 19 November 2022^[20]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Ivory Coast	2019	1	0
	2022	2	0
Total		3	0

Honours

Molde

• Eliteserien: 2022
• Norwegian Cup: 2021–22