Yakou Méïté (born 11 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Damac. Born in France, he represents the Ivory Coast at international level.
.jpg) Méïté with Cardiff City in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yakou Méïté[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 February 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Paris, France | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Damac | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2014 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Paris Saint-Germain B | 45 | (8) |
| 2015–2016 | Paris Saint-Germain | 1 | (0) |
| 2016–2023 | Reading | 156 | (42) |
| 2017–2018 | → Sochaux (loan) | 31 | (3) |
| 2023–2025 | Cardiff City | 72 | (5) |
| 2025– | Damac | 20 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2013 | Ivory Coast U17 | 5 | (1) |
| 2015 | Ivory Coast U20 | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | Ivory Coast U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2018– | Ivory Coast | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 October 2019 | |||
Early life
editClub career
editParis Saint Germain
editMéïté started his professional career at Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. He made his professional debut on 9 April 2016, in a Ligue 1 match against Guingamp, replacing Jean-Kévin Augustin after 91 minutes, in a 2–0 away win.[3]
Reading
editOn 29 July 2016, Méïté signed a three-year contract with EFL Championship club Reading.[4] He made his debut for Reading as a substitute in an EFL Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle on 9 August 2016,[5] with his first goal for the club coming on 21 January 2017, during a 3–2 defeat to Derby County in the Championship.[6]
On 8 July 2017, Méïté moved to Ligue 2 club Sochaux, on a season-long loan deal.[7]
On 3 October 2018, Reading announced that Méïté had signed a new contract with Reading, until the summer of 2022.[8] On his return to Reading, he became a mainstay as the club's striker and scored 6 goals in 5 games, impressing manager Paul Clement.[9]
In August 2019, Méïté spoke out about racist abuse he received on social media.[10] He said he chose to do so due to the impact it had on players.[11] On 4 July 2020, he scored four goals in a 5–0 win against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in a match played behind-closed-doors during the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
On 17 May 2023, Reading announced that they had offered a new contact to Méïté, with his current deal due to expire at the end of June 2023.[13] On 21 June 2023, Méïté confirmed his decision to leave Reading at the end of his contract following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.[14]
Cardiff City
editOn 7 July 2023, Méïté signed a two-year contract with EFL Championship club Cardiff City.[15] On 12 June 2025, Cardiff City announced that Méïté would leave the club at the end of his contract following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season after he had spent 2 seasons at the Welsh capital club.[16]
Damac
editOn 27 August 2025, Saudi Pro League club Damac announced the signing of Méïté.[17]
International career
editMéïté has represented the Ivory Coast U17s and U20s.[18] He debuted for the Ivory Coast U23s in a 5–0 friendly win over the Togo U23s on 27 March 2018.[19]
Méïté was called up to the senior Ivory Coast squad for a friendly against Togo in March 2018.[20] He was selected for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea on 18 November 2018.[21] He made his debut for the Ivory Coast on 26 March 2019, in a 1–0 victory over Liberia, playing 73 minutes before being replaced by eventual goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia.[22]
Style of play
editMéïté is a physically strong player. He has impressive strength, ability in the air, speed and tireless stamina. Former Reading manager Paul Clement praised him for his workrate and willingness to battle for every ball.[9]
Personal life
editYakou Meïté is the cousin of Bamo Meïté, who is also a professional footballer.[23]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 10 May 2026[18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain B | 2013–14 | CFA | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15 | CFA | 20 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 6 | |||||
| 2015–16 | CFA | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 45 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 8 | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reading | 2016–17 | Championship | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2018–19 | Championship | 37 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 13 | |||
| 2019–20 | Championship | 40 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 45 | 17 | |||
| 2020–21 | Championship | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 12 | |||
| 2021–22 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Championship | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 4 | |||
| Total | 156 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165 | 47 | ||
| Reading U21 | 2016–17 | — | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Sochaux (loan) | 2017–18 | Ligue 2 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 5 | ||
| Cardiff City | 2023–24 | Championship | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Championship | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 3 | |||
| Total | 72 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 5 | ||
| Damac | 2025–26 | Saudi Pro League | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 5 | |||
| Career total | 324 | 63 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 339 | 70 | ||
- ↑ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
- ↑ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
- ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy
International
edit- As of match played 13 October 2019
| Ivory Coast | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |
Honours
editParis Saint-Germain U19
- Championnat National U19: 2015–16
- UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2015–16
Paris Saint-Germain
References
edit- ↑ "EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ↑ Marteh, Danesius (8 November 2018). "Ivory Coast stick with Manchester United's Eric Bailly". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ↑ "Guingamp vs. PSG - 9 April 2016 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ↑ "Royals swoop to sign Yakou Meite". reading.co.uk. Reading F.C. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ↑ "Reading 2-0 Plymouth". BBC. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ↑ "Derby 3-2 Reading". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ↑ "Meite returns to France for loan season at Sochaux". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ↑ "Méïté pens new long-term deal as a Royal". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- 1 2 ""Fighting spirit and attitude… Yakou has that in abundance!"". www.readingfc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Yakou Meite: Reading striker calls out racist abuse". BBC Sport. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ↑ "Yakou Meite: Reading striker chose to share racist abuse to demonstrate impact on players". BBC Sport. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ↑ "Luton 0-5 Reading". BBC. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ↑ "NEW DEALS OFFERED AS CONTRACTS COME TO THEIR CONCLUSION". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ↑ "MEITE SET TO DEPART AFTER CONTRACT OFFER TURNED DOWN". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ↑ "Yakou Méïté signs for Cardiff City". cardiffcityfc.co.uk/. Cardiff City F.C. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ↑ "2024/25 Retained List". Cardiff City FC. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ↑ "ضمك يُبرم عقدًا مع المهاجم الإيفواري ياكو ميتي". damac.sa (in Arabic). Damac FC. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- 1 2 Yakou Méïté at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ↑ Ewan. "Yakou Méïté et les U23 de la Côte d'Ivoire s'imposent face au Togo". fcsochaux.fr. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ↑ "Togo vs Ivory Coast". ESPN. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ↑ "Elim. CAN 2019 (5è j. GUI/CIV): Voici les 23 Eléphants sélectionnés". fifciv.com. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ↑ "CÔTE D'IVOIRE 1-0 LIBERIA". soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ↑ "FC Lorient : l'interview selfie de Bamo Meïté". Le Télégramme (in French). 12 March 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
External links
edit- Yakou Méïté at WorldFootball.net