Biography
Who is Franck Kessié?
Early life and career beginnings
Franck Kessié Yannick Kessié was born in Ouragahio, Côte d'Ivoire, on December 19, 1996. He began playing football in his home country by joining the youth setup of Stella Club d'Adjamé in 2010. After advancing through their youth ranks, he was promoted to the first team in 2014.
In January 2015, Franck signed a three-year contract with the Italian Serie A club Atalanta. Initially, he was assigned to the club's Primavera squad, where he made seven appearances. He was later loaned out to Cesena in Serie B for the 2015-2016 season to gain more professional experience, making thirty-seven appearances and scoring four goals.
Rise with Atalanta and AC Milan
Following his loan spell, Franck returned to Atalanta and became a regular starter under manager Gian Piero Gasperini. In June 2017, he made a high-profile move to AC Milan on a two-year loan deal with an obligation to buy. During his time with AC Milan, he established himself as a reliable penalty taker and a vital midfielder.
Franck played a key role in AC Milan's success during the 2021-22 Serie A season. In May 2022, he scored the third goal in a 3-0 victory against Sassuolo, which officially secured the Scudetto title for the club. This marked his final match and goal for AC Milan before his departure.
Barcelona and Al-Ahli career
In July 2022, Franck joined Spanish club Barcelona after his contract with AC Milan expired, signing a deal until 2026. During his time with Barcelona, he scored a crucial winning goal against Real Madrid in El Clasico in March 2023, which also marked the 3,000th goal scored by Barcelona at the Camp Nou in La Liga.
Franck later transferred to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli in August 2023. During his stint in Saudi Arabia, he won the AFC Champions League Elite and was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2025-26 season following a victory over Machida Zelvia in the final. In August 2026, he rejoined Atalanta as a free agent.
International career with Ivory Coast
Franck has represented the Ivory Coast at youth and senior levels. At the age of seventeen, he made his debut for the senior national team on September 6, 2014, starting in a match against Sierra Leone during the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
He later participated in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Franck served as team captain and played a crucial role in helping the Ivory Coast win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, scoring an equalizer from a penalty during the knockout stages.
Birthday and age
Franck Kessié was born on December 19, 1996, which makes Franck 29 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Franck shares the date with 59 other famous people.
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