Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana completes move to Rizespor

Ivory Coast national team goalkeeper Yahia Fofana has landed in Turkish football after completing a transfer to Super Lig club Çaykur Rizespor.

Yahia Fofana Çaykur Rizespor’da

Çaykur Rizespor’umuz, Fildişi Sahilli milli takım kalecisi Yahia Fofana’yı 3 sezonluğuna kadrosuna kattı.

Fransa Ligue 1 ekibi Angers ve Fofana ile anlaşmaya varılmasının ardından oyuncu sağlık kontrolleri için İstanbul’a geldi.
Sağlık… pic.twitter.com/33nMI0lBnr

— Çaykur Rizespor (@CRizesporAS) September 2, 2025

After plenty of speculation about a move following two successful seasons with French club Angers, the 25-year-old will continue his career with the club located on the Black Sea coast. Fofana completed his medical and signed a three-year contract before jetting off to be with the Ivorian national team for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures.

Born in France, Fofana represented French youth national teams up to the under-21 side before deciding to switch allegiance to the Elephants in September 2023. He played every minute of Ivory Coast’s victorious 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign when the West African nation hosted Africa’s showpiece national team competition. Fofana remained the number one option, also playing every minute of the Elephants’ successful 2025 AFCON qualification.

The great wall of Cote d’Ivoire 🇨🇮

Yahia Fofana makes the #SaveOfTheDay vs. Senegal! 🧤#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @GroupEcobank pic.twitter.com/Tfo7iU3t5D

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) January 30, 2024

Fofana looks set to assume starting duties once he finishes the September FIFA window. Rizespor only have one point through three Super Lig games, most recently dropping a 1-3 result at reigning champions Galatasaray. The club finished in ninth place last season and will next face Genclerbirligi at home on September 14.

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