Yao Eloge Koffi
Ivorian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eloge Koffi Yao Guy (born 20 January 1996) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Serie C club Virtus Verona.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eloge Koffi Yao Guy[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 January 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Akroukro, Ivory Coast | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Virtus Verona | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Parma | |||
| 2012–2015 | Inter Milan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2017 | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | → Crotone (loan) | 30 | (1) |
| 2017–2020 | Lugano | 51 | (1) |
| 2021 | Reggiana | 13 | (2) |
| 2021–2025 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 109 | (1) |
| 2026– | Virtus Verona | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 March 2026 | |||
Club career
Internazionale
Born in Akroukro, Ivory Coast, Yao was signed by the Serie A club Inter Milan from Parma in January 2012. The club sold the 50% registration rights of Jacopo Galimberti (€500,000) and Diego Mella (€500,000) for the 50% registration rights of Yao (€1 million).[4] Yao spent the rest of the 2011–12 season with Parma's youth team. He was a member of Inter's under-17 team in 2012–13 season and was promoted to the reserve team in 2013. In June 2013, Yao's co-ownership contract was renewed. Inter also bought back Galimberti and Mella in €1.75 million cash plus the remain 50% rights of Nwankwo Obiora.[5]
In June 2014, Parma bought back Ishak Belfodil for €5.75 million from Inter, with Lorenzo Crisetig (€4.75 million)[6] and Yao (€1 million) moved to Inter outright.[7]
Loan to Crotone
On 10 July 2015, Yao was signed by the Serie B club Crotone with a season-long loan deal.[8] On 9 August he made his debut for Crotone in the second round of Coppa Italia in a 1–0 home win over Feralpisalò.[9] On 14 August, Yao played in the third round of Coppa Italia as a substitute replacing Giuseppe Zampano in the 87th minute of a 1–0 home win against Ternana.[10] On 7 September, he made his Serie B debut in a 4–0 away defeat against Cagliari.[11] On 26 September, Yao scored his first professional goal in the 92nd minute of a 2–0 away win over Pro Vercelli.[12] On 1 December, he played in the fourth round of Coppa Italia when he was replaced by Jacopo Galli in the 71st minute, in a 3–1 away defeat after extra time against A.C. Milan at San Siro.[13] Yao ended his season-long loan to Crotone with 33 appearances and 1 goal, and at end of the season Crotone finished second in Serie B and was promoted to Serie A[14]
Lugano
On 21 July 2017, Yao was signed by Swiss Super League side FC Lugano for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.[15] On 20 August 2017, Yao mede his debut for Lugano in Swiss Super League as a substitute replacing Steve Rouiller in the 78th minute of a 1–1 away draw against Basel.[16] On 14 September, he made his UEFA Europa League debut with Lugano as a substitute replacing Steve Rouiller in the 46th minute of 2–1 away defeat against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.[17] On 17 September, Yao played his first match in the Schweizer Pokal in the round of 32 in a 1–0 away win over Koniz.[18]
Reggiana
On 14 January 2021, Yao signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Serie B club Reggiana.[19]
Hapoel Jerusalem
On 11 August 2021, Yao signed for Hapoel Jerusalem.[20] On 12 September 2022, he scored his only goal for the club in a 1–0 victory against Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel's first win in the Jerusalem derby in 31 years.
Career statistics
- As of match played 3 May 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Crotone (loan) | 2015–16 | Serie B | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 | ||
| Internazionale | 2016–17 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Lugano | 2017–18 | Swiss Super League | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Swiss Super League | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20 | Swiss Super League | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| Total | 51 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 1 | ||
| Reggiana | 2020–21 | Serie B | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | |
| Hapoel Jerusalem | 2021–22 | Israeli Premier League | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Israeli Premier League | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | Israeli Premier League | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 5[c] | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Israeli Premier League | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| Total | 109 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | 123 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 203 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 232 | 5 | ||
- Includes Coppa Italia, Swiss Cup, Israel State Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League