Olympique Marseille has bolstered its attacking lineup, officially announcing on Friday the signing of Hamed Traoré, 25. The Ivorian international previously made a significant impact last season while on loan at AJ Auxerre.
During his stint at Auxerre, Traoré emerged as one of Ligue 1`s top goal-scorers, finding the net 10 times, a tally matched by his teammate Gaëtan Perrin. Prior to joining Marseille, Traoré was under contract with English Premier League club Bournemouth.
Marseille`s new head coach, Roberto De Zerbi, revealed that the attacking midfielder had been a target throughout the current transfer window.
“This summer, we immediately thought of Traoré. He is a very good player, he has already played in France, and I have previously coached him (at Empoli, between June 2018 and May 2021). He is capable of playing in two or three different attacking positions.”
Traoré began his career in Empoli`s youth academy before playing his first two senior seasons with the Tuscan club. De Zerbi also mentioned that they would assess his current physical condition and match fitness.
The 25-year-old spent over five seasons in Italy before initially moving to Bournemouth on loan in late January 2023. In May of that year, “the Cherries” confirmed that a mandatory buy option in his contract had been activated, making the move permanent.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Marseille`s initial transfer fee to Bournemouth is €7 million. The agreement also includes a 50% sell-on clause, ensuring Bournemouth benefits from any future sale. Traoré’s contract with Marseille is set to keep him at the club until June 2030.
On the international stage, Traoré has earned 10 caps for the Ivory Coast national team, scoring two goals. However, he was not included in Emerse Faé’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. “Les Éléphants” are scheduled to face Burundi next Friday, followed by a match against Gabon on September 9th.
Marseille`s final fixture before the international break will be on Sunday, as they travel to Groupama Stadium to take on the undefeated Olympique Lyonnais.
