1. Early Life and Background
Ghislain Konan was born on 27 December 1995, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He began his football development in his home country, spending his youth career at the renowned Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas. His foundational training at ASEC Mimosas laid the groundwork for his professional career, preparing him for a move to European football.
2. Club Career
Konan's professional club career has seen him progress through various leagues and countries, demonstrating his development as a skilled left-back.
2.1. Vitória SC
Konan began his professional journey in Portugal with Vitória SC. He made his professional debut for Vitória SC B in the Portuguese Segunda Liga on 17 February 2016, in a match against Atlético CP. His performances with the B team earned him a call-up to the senior squad. He made his Primeira Liga debut for Vitória SC on 10 December 2016, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Boavista. During his time with Vitória SC, he established himself as a reliable defender, which attracted attention from clubs in other European leagues.
2.2. Stade de Reims
In the summer of 2017, Konan transferred to French club Stade de Reims from Vitória SC. The transfer fee was around 3.60 M GBP, which was approximately 3.60 M EUR. He made his debut for Reims in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 away win against OGC Nice. Konan quickly became an integral part of the team's defense. During the 2021-22 season, he showcased a stable defensive performance that garnered significant attention from prominent European clubs, including Olympique Lyonnais and Fenerbahçe SK. His consistent play and powerful kicking ability made him a highly regarded asset for Stade de Reims.
2.3. Al Nassr
In July 2022, Konan moved to the Saudi Pro League by joining Al Nassr on a three-year contract. This move marked a significant step in his career, bringing him to one of Asia's top leagues and playing alongside international stars. He quickly integrated into the team, contributing to their domestic and continental campaigns.
2.4. Al-Fayha (loan)
On 4 September 2023, Al Nassr sent Konan on a season-long loan to fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha. During this loan spell, Konan continued to be a regular starter, showcasing his defensive capabilities and gaining further experience in the competitive Saudi league.
2.5. Burgos CF
On 30 January 2025, Konan, as a free agent, joined Spanish Segunda División side Burgos CF. He signed a six-month contract with the club, marking his return to European football and his first experience in Spanish football.
3. International Career
Konan has been a consistent presence for the Ivory Coast national team since his debut. He made his senior international debut for the Ivory Coast on 6 October 2017, in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Mali, which ended in a 0-0 tie.
He was a member of the Ivory Coast squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. In this tournament, Konan played a crucial role, starting in all four of the team's matches as the primary left-back. Although he was scheduled to participate in a friendly match against the Japan national team in October 2020, he had to withdraw from the squad shortly before the game.
In December 2023, Konan was once again selected for the Ivory Coast squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. His contributions helped the team to ultimately win the prestigious tournament, marking a significant achievement in his international career.
4. Career Statistics
The following table details Ghislain Konan's appearances and goals across various club competitions and for the national team throughout his career.
| Club | Season | League | National cup (Includes Taça de Portugal, Coupe de France, King's Cup (Saudi Arabia)) | League cup (Includes Taça da Liga, Coupe de la Ligue) | Continental | Other (Includes Saudi Super Cup, Arab Club Champions Cup) | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vitória B | 2015-16 | LigaPro | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2016-17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 14 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Vitória | 2016-17 | Primeira Liga | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2017-18 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 5 (Appearances in UEFA Europa League) | 0 | - | 32 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 0 | ||
| Reims | 2018-19 | Ligue 1 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2019-20 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 0 | ||||
| 2020-21 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (Appearances in UEFA Europa League qualification) | 0 | - | 33 | 2 | |||
| 2021-22 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 95 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 99 | 3 | |||
| Al-Nassr | 2022-23 | Saudi Pro League | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 1 (Appearance in Saudi Super Cup) | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2023-24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 (Appearance in AFC Champions League qualification) | 0 | 6 (Appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup) | 0 | 12 | 0 | |||
| Total | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| Al-Fayha | 2023-24 | Saudi Pro League | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 (Appearances in AFC Champions League) | 0 | - | 30 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 218 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 249 | 3 | ||
The statistics are current as of matches played on 8 June 2024.
5. Honours
Ghislain Konan has achieved several significant collective and individual honors throughout his career.
Ivory Coast
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2023
Al-Nassr
- Arab Club Champions Cup: 2023
Individual
- Saudi Professional League Team of the Year: 2022-23
- Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2023