Everything you need to know about David Datro Fofana ahead of his potential deadline day move to Sunderland.
A busy deadline is expected at Sunderland as Regis Le Bris looks to make the final additions to his squad.
The club have started the new Championship campaign brilliantly and they sit top of the table. However, this hasn’t stopped the Black Cats from seeking to improve their squad.
A striker is believed to be one position Le Bris wants to strengthen. With the deal for Tom Cannon to move to Sunderland appearing to be off, the club will need to explore different options.
One such player linked is Chelsea’s Fofana with Sunderland AFC News giving you all the information you need to know about the striker.
David Datro Fofana’s age and height
Fofana was born on December 22, 2002. At the time of writing, this makes him 21 years old. He also stands at 1.81 metres which is five foot 11 inches.
What position does David Datro Fofana play?
Throughout his career, Fofana has mainly been used as a central striker. However, he can also be utilised on the left and right wings.
What is David Datro Fofana’s nationality?
Fofana was born in Ouragahio, a town in central Ivory Coast.
Is he an international player?
Yes, Fofana has earned three caps for the Ivory Coast since making his debut in 2019. He has also been part of the Under 23s team since 2023 and captained the side against Morocco in March last year.
How much did Chelsea pay for David Datro Fofana?
The striker was one of many young players to join Chelsea in recent seasons. Fofana reportedly joined the capital side for a fee between £8 million and £10 million in January 2023.
Has David Datro Fofana played in the Champions League?
After joining Chelsea, Fofana was shipped out on loan in order to aim his development.
At the start of the 2023/24 campaign, the striker joined Union Berlin. Here, Fofana made 17 appearances in all competitions, including four in the Champions League. The 21-year-old also scored in the competition, netting against Napoli in a 1-1 draw.
Fofana also has experience in the Europa League and Conference League after playing in the competitions for Norwegian side Molde.
Career so far
| Club | Time Spent | Appearances (goals) |
| Molde | 2021-22 | 65(24) |
| Chelsea | 2022- | 4(0) |
| Union Berlin (loan) | 2023-24 | 17(2) |
| Burnley (loan) | 2024 | 15(4) |
David Datro Fofana stats
According to Fbref, Fofana has multiple positive attributes. Notably, the striker is accomplished at dribbling, performing 2.26 progressive carries and 2.1 successful take-ons per game.
The striker is also good at creating chances. 2.64 shot-creating actions were made through the attacker per game, with a npxG + xAG of 0.56 being produced on average.
Are Sunderland interested in David Datro Fofana?
With the Black Cats searching for additional reinforcements up top, one player who has been linked is the Chelsea striker.
Sunderland are reportedly seeking a loan deal for Fofana who could help fire the club back into the Premier League.