In an effort to prove that David Datro Fofana was “stolen” by Molde FK in Norway, his first club will take his contentious departure to Europe to the Federal Supreme Court. They will also demand a twenty percent cut of his Chelsea move.
After losing their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against Fofana and Molde, Abidjan City FC plans to pursue the issue further. They claim he moved to Molde illegally and that he was under a professional contract.
The Ivory Coast striker’s level of interest prior to his departure from Africa and eventual arrival in the Premier League is detailed in the CAS verdict, which Telegraph Sport has access to. It also details the allegations of fraudulent contracts.
Abidjan City’s president, Marco Né, a former Olympiacos midfielder, maintains that he is fighting Molde and Fofana for justice rather than money, warning other African clubs that if they don’t, they run the risk of losing their players to European teams.
Né stated, “We just want justice.” Né had previously called Fofana “stolen.” “If it’s missing, major teams may come and sign our guys. Not just for me, but also for African football, this is dangerous.
With four goals in his past seven games while on loan at Burnley, Fofana, 21, is the main factor keeping Burnley in the Premier League.
joining the Chelsea team. However, for the past three years, the beginning of his journey has been at the focus of a contentious legal case.
Fofana was signed by Molde in 2021 as a free agent, but Abidjan City maintains that he was under contract. The Ivorian team employed handwriting specialists to examine the player’s mother Valérie Datro’s signature on a five-year contract. According to club insiders, there may be more lawsuits brought regarding Fofana’s contract.
If he was free, “many clubs would take him,” Né said. He played for the country’s squad. In what way was he free? He was bound by contract, as everyone is aware. I even had a conversation with Leicester. As my brother, I had a conversation with [then assistant] Kolo Touré from the same
school. But even the federation supported the action.
“In our opinion, this is unfair. The player’s licencing belonged to us and us alone. He began working with us at the age of 14, and in 2017, he signed a five-year contract when he was old enough.
According to the CAS documents, Abidjan City had a deal in place with the French club Angers for Fofana, which accounts for €1.065 million of the claim. Additionally, Chelsea received 20% of the deal, which turned out to be worth almost £13 million. However, the files also indicate that Brighton was connected to Fofana, and Ligue 1 teams Strasbourg and Waasland Beveren in Belgium were also interested.
When Chelsea was negotiating for Fofana ahead of his move to Stamford Bridge in December 2022, Né also claims that a third party—rather than the clubs directly—made an approach proposing a monetary settlement between all clubs. “I said no,” Né continued.
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