Franck Kessie: The Impressive Ivorian Midfield Ace

Franck Kessie is one of the best Ivorian midfielders in recent times; he led the Ivory Coast to victory in the 2023 African Cup of Nations hosted on home soil.

He is also regarded as one of the best African midfielders in the world, along with the likes of Wilfred Ndidi, Thomas Partey and Ismael Bennacer.

Player Profile – Franck Yannick Kessie

Franck Yannick Kessie plays primarily as a central or defensive midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli and represents the Ivory Coast national team.

Kessié began his professional career with Atalanta before moving to AC Milan in 2017 initially on loan, which became permanent two years later.

He played a crucial role in AC Milan’s success in Serie A during the 2021–22 season. In 2022, he transferred to Barcelona, where he won titles in La Liga and the Supercopa de España, before moving to Al-Ahli in 2023.

Player Profile Overview

Franck Kessié‘s Early Life and Background

Franck Kessie, born in Ouragahio, a small town in southern Ivory Coast, hails from a footballing family; his father was a former professional player.

Inspired by his father’s career, Kessie eagerly followed in his footsteps, aiming to surpass his achievements by playing in Europe—a feat his father never accomplished.

Franck Kessié lost his father, a former professional footballer turned soldier, to illness when he was just 11 years old. He began his football journey at just 14 with Stella Club d’Adjamé’s youth team in Abidjan.

Franck Kessié‘s Playing Style and Strengths

Franck Kessié is known for his dynamic and robust playing style, making him a formidable presence on the field. He excels as a central midfielder, where his athleticism, physicality, and technical abilities shine.

Kessié is adept at breaking up opposition attacks with his strong tackling and interception skills. His passing range allows him to dictate play from midfield, often initiating attacks with accurate distribution.

Offensively, Kessié contributes with his goal-scoring prowess, frequently making runs into the box to finish off chances. His ability to score from set pieces, particularly penalties, adds to his attacking threat.

Kessié’s work rate and stamina are also notable, enabling him to cover a lot of ground and maintain intensity throughout matches.

First Glimpses of Franck Kessié‘s Talent: Youth Academy

Franck Kessie began his career in Stella Club d’Adjamé in Cote D’Ivoire, joining their youth setup in 2010 and he was promoted to the first team in 2014. However, his talent did not go unnoticed as Kessié signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Atalanta, initially joining their Primavera squad and making seven appearances.

He played his first European match on March 1, starting in a 2-0 away win against AC Milan Primavera. Subsequently, Kessié was called up to Atalanta’s first team for a match against Roma but remained an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw.

Frank Kessie’s Loan Move to Cesena

Franck Kessié joined Serie B club Cesena on a one-year loan deal and made his professional debut as a substitute in a 0–0 draw against Perugia. Kessié scored his first professional goal in a 2–0 home victory over Virtus Lanciano.

The Ivorian established himself as a key player, appearing in 37 matches and scoring four goals; however, Cesena missed out on promotion to the playoffs.

Franck Kessié was promoted to Atalanta’s first team by manager Gian Piero Gasperini after returning from a loan spell. He made a notable debut on August 13, 2016, scoring in a 3-0 Coppa Italia win against Cremonese. Shortly after, he renewed his contract until 2021.

Kessie scored twice on his Serie A debut in a 4-3 loss to Lazio, and he continued his strong form by scoring in subsequent matches. His impressive performances quickly made him a key player in Gian Piero Gasperini‘s lineup.

Kessie Moves to San Siro

Franck Kessie joined AC Milan on a two-year loan deal from Atalanta, with Milan obligated to purchase him afterwards. Initially, Kessie chose shirt number 19 but switched to 79 to accommodate new teammate Leonardo Bonucci.

Kessie debuted for Milan in a Europa League qualifier against CS U Craiova. He scored his first Serie A goal for Milan in a 3-0 win over Crotone and played in the Coppa Italia final, which Milan lost 4-0 to Juventus.

Despite Bonucci’s departure, Kessie retained his number 79 jersey to avoid forcing fans to buy new shirts. Milan reached the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana final but lost again to Juventus, with Kessié being sent off in the 74th minute.

During the 2020-21 Serie A season, Kessié scored 13 goals in 37 appearances, helping Milan finish second and qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in eight years.

He became the first Milan player to score at least ten penalties in a Serie A season since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2011-12 and played 50 matches across all competitions, the highest in Serie A alongside Matteo Politano.

Winning the Scudetto

Kessie continued to impress at the heart of the midfield for the Rossoneri. He had an eventful season domestically and also in Europe.

In the Serie A game against Lazio, Kessie won a penalty but missed it, although Milan still won 2–0. However, he redeemed himself by scoring a penalty to secure a 2–1 win over Roma.

Against city rivals Inter Milan, Kessié fouled Hakan Çalhanoğlu in the box, leading to a penalty that Çalhanoğlu converted in a 1–1 draw. He opened the scoring against Salernitana on December 4th in a 2–0 victory.

The Ivorian continued to star for AC Milan, scoring twice against Empoli, taking his goal tally to 14 Serie A goals in 2021, a feat last achieved by an AC Milan midfielder, Ricardo Kaká, in 2008.

During AC MIlan’s UEFA Champions League campaign, Frank Kessie was red-carded in the 29th minute against Atletico Madrid, which contributed to Milan’s 1–2 defeat.

Frank Kessie scored a goal in AC Milan’s 3–0 win over Sassuolo to help the club win the Scudetto title. This match also marked his farewell appearance for Milan, as he announced his departure shortly afterwards to the La Liga.

Franck Kessie’s La Liga Adventure

On July 4, 2022, Barcelona announced the signing of Franck Kessié, agreeing to terms following his contract expiration with AC Milan. He officially joined on July 6, signing a four-year contract until June 30, 2026, with a buyout clause set at €500 million.

Kessie debuted for Barcelona as a substitute for Pedri in a 0–0 draw against Rayo Vallecano in the league. His first goal for the club came against great rivals Real Madrid in the El Clasico.

He scored in the 92nd minute from Alejandro Balde‘s assist, securing a 2–1 victory for Barcelona and marking the club’s 3,000th goal at Camp Nou in La Liga.

On August 9, 2023, Franck Kessie transferred to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli in a €12.5 million deal. He joined a long list of elite footballers moving to Saudi Arabia. The list includes the likes of Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, Sadio Mane, Neymar Jr. and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Franck Kessié‘s International Career

Franck Kessié has represented Ivory Coast in various youth and senior football tournaments. He played in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the Toulon Tournament at the under-17 and under-20 levels.

During the U-17 World Cup, there was a dispute over his age raised by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which FIFA later dismissed.

Kessié made his debut for Ivory Coast’s senior national team at the age of 17 in a 2–1 victory over Sierra Leone on 6 September 2014, during the qualification matches for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Coach Michel Dussuyer selected him for the squad in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He started in all matches as Ivory Coast exited the tournament in the group stage.

At the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Franck Kessie excelled as a playmaker, finishing as the joint-top assist provider alongside Ismael Bennacer with three assists. Ivory Coast was eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Algeria after a penalty shoot-out, during which Kessié successfully converted his team’s first penalty kick.

Winning the AFCON with Cote D’Ivoire

Franck Kessie played a vital role for the Ivory Coast during the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. In 2021, he started in all four matches, scoring once in a 3–1 victory over Algeria in Group E. However, he was injured just 30 minutes into the round of 16 match against Egypt.

In December 2023, Kessié was once again included in the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. He captained the team in their opening match, a 2–0 win against Guinea-Bissau on January 14, 2024.

During the round of 16 clash against Senegal, he came off the bench in the second half and scored the equalizing goal from a penalty in the 86th minute, resulting in a 1–1 draw.

He also successfully converted the final penalty in the shootout, securing a 5–4 victory and sending his team to the quarter-finals. Kessié later scored another goal in the final against Nigeria, cancelling Troost-Ekong’s goal for Nigeria and helping Cote D’Ivoire to a 2–1 triumph.

Comparisons With Other Football Greats

Franck Kessie has drawn comparisons to one of Italy’s midfield maestros, Gennaro Gattuso. Known for his combative style and relentless energy, Gattuso made a mark with AC Milan and the Italian national team, embodying the spirit of tenacity in midfield.

However, Kessie’s impact transcends mere comparison. Gattuso himself has acknowledged Kessie’s ability to disrupt play and wreak havoc in the final third—a testament to his versatility and effectiveness across the pitch.

Unlike his predecessor, Kessie brings a modern flair, combining defensive prowess with a keen eye for goal-scoring opportunities, making him a formidable presence for AC Milan and beyond.

Influences and Idols

Franck Kessie certainly looks up to some impressive players. Michael Essien and Yaya Toure are both legendary figures in football, known for their skill, athleticism, and leadership on the field. It’s always inspiring to see current players acknowledge their idols and heroes from the past.

Franck Kessie’s Personal Life and Interests

One of his goal celebrations—a military salute—is a tribute to his late father. During his childhood, Yaya Touré served as his idol. Kessié practices Islam and observes fasting during Ramadan each year.

Before heading to the Ivorian pre-Olympics camp, Franck Kessie celebrated a vibrant wedding ceremony at home. In June, he married his long-term partner Joelle, who is also the mother of his two children.

The couple chose to honour their heritage with a traditional Ivorian wedding, complete with striking attire. The event was a glamorous affair attended by Ivorian celebrities, including his teammate Gervinho.

Conclusion