Yakou Méïté
Ivorian footballer (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yakou Méïté (born 11 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Damac. Born in France, he represents the Ivory Coast at international level.
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Méïté in 2025. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yakou Méïté[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 February 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Paris, France | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Damac | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2014 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Paris Saint-Germain B | 45 | (8) |
| 2015–2016 | Paris Saint-Germain | 1 | (0) |
| 2016–2023 | Reading | 156 | (42) |
| 2017–2018 | → Sochaux (loan) | 31 | (3) |
| 2023–2025 | Cardiff City | 72 | (5) |
| 2025– | Damac | 20 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2013 | Ivory Coast U17 | 5 | (1) |
| 2015 | Ivory Coast U20 | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | Ivory Coast U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2018– | Ivory Coast | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 October 2019 | |||
Early life
Club career
Paris Saint Germain
Méïté started his professional career at Paris Saint-Germain. He made his professional debut on 9 April 2016, in a Ligue 1 match against Guingamp, replacing Jean-Kévin Augustin after 91 minutes, in a 2–0 away win.[3]
Reading
On 29 July 2016, Méïté signed a three-year contract with English side Reading.[4] He made his debut for Reading as a substitute in an EFL Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle on 9 August 2016,[5] with his first goal for the club coming on 21 January 2017, during a 3–2 defeat to Derby County in the Championship.[6]
On 8 July 2017, Méïté moved to Sochaux, on a season-long loan deal.[7]
On 3 October 2018, Reading announced that Méïté had signed a new contract with Reading, until the summer of 2022.[8] On his return to Reading, he became a mainstay as the club's striker and scored 6 goals in 5 games, impressing manager Paul Clement.[9]
In August 2019, Méïté spoke out about racist abuse he received on social media.[10] He said he chose to do so due to the impact it had on players.[11] On 4 July 2020, he scored four goals in a 5–0 win away at Luton Town.[12]
On 17 May 2023, Reading announced that they had offered a new contact to Méïté, with his current deal due to expire at the end of June 2023.[13] On 21 June 2023, Méïté confirmed his decision to leave Reading at the end of his contract.[14]
Cardiff City
On 7 July 2023, Méïté signed a two-year contract with Cardiff City.[15] On 12 June 2025, Cardiff announced that Méïté would leave the club at the end of his contract.[16]
Damac
On 27 August 2025, Saudi Pro League club Damac announced the signing of Méïté.[17]
International career
Méïté has represented the Ivory Coast U17s and U20s.[18] He debuted for the Ivory Coast U23s in a 5–0 friendly win over the Togo U23s on 27 March 2018.[19]
Méïté was called up to the senior Ivory Coast squad for a friendly against Togo in March 2018.[20] He was selected for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea on 18 November 2018.[21] He made his debut for the Ivory Coast on 26 March 2019, in a 1–0 victory over Liberia, playing 73 minutes before being replaced by eventual goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia.[22]
Style of play
Méïté is a physically strong player. He has impressive strength, ability in the air, speed and tireless stamina. Paul Clement praised him for his workrate and willingness to battle for every ball.[9]
Personal life
Yakou Meïté is the cousin of Bamo Meïté, who is also a professional footballer.[23]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 10 May 2026[18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain B | 2013–14 | CFA | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15 | CFA | 20 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 6 | |||||
| 2015–16 | CFA | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 45 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 8 | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reading | 2016–17 | Championship | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2018–19 | Championship | 37 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 13 | |||
| 2019–20 | Championship | 40 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 45 | 17 | |||
| 2020–21 | Championship | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 12 | |||
| 2021–22 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Championship | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 4 | |||
| Total | 156 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165 | 47 | ||
| Reading U21 | 2016–17 | — | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Sochaux (loan) | 2017–18 | Ligue 2 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 5 | ||
| Cardiff City | 2023–24 | Championship | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Championship | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 3 | |||
| Total | 72 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 5 | ||
| Damac | 2025–26 | Saudi Pro League | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 5 | |||
| Career total | 324 | 63 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 339 | 70 | ||
- Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
- Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
- Appearance in EFL Trophy
International
- As of match played 13 October 2019
| Ivory Coast | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |
Honours
Paris Saint-Germain U19
- Championnat National U19: 2015–16
- UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2015–16
Paris Saint-Germain