Yaya Touré

Ivorian midfielder who won the Champions League with Barcelona and Premier League with Manchester City, known for his powerful box-to-box play and goals.

Gnégnéri Yaya Touré was born in Bouaké, Ivory Coast in 1983 and began his career at Beveren in Belgium (2001–03). After spells in Ukraine (Metalurh Donetsk) and Greece (Olympiacos), Monaco and Barcelona (2007–2010, winning Champions League and 2 La Liga titles), Manchester City paid £24 million in 2010. He spent 8 seasons at City (2010–2018) making 316 appearances, scoring 79 goals and providing 60 assists — including crucial goals in the 2012 title win. He earned 101 Ivory Coast caps scoring 19 goals and won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015. His top speed of 33.2 km/h and 11.4 km per game — the highest for a central midfielder at City — reflected extraordinary athleticism for a player 6ft 2in and 78kg. He scored 201 career goals and provided 184 assists across 760 appearances. He was African Footballer of the Year 4 consecutive times (2011–2014). His physicality allowed him to dominate box-to-box in ways no central midfielder of his size had previously managed. He scored the goals that sealed City's 2011 FA Cup and 2012 Premier League title — career-defining moments for the club.

Box-to-box midfielder with exceptional physicality, dribbling ability, and powerful long-range shooting

One of the greatest African midfielders who bridged Barcelona's tiki-taka era and Manchester City's Premier League dominance

• Champions League 2009 (Barcelona)
• La Liga 2009, 2010 (Barcelona)
• Premier League 2012, 2014 (Manchester City)
• FA Cup 2011
• League Cup 2014, 2016 (City)
• Africa Cup of Nations 2015 (Ivory Coast)

Club Career

Club	Period	Apps	Goals	Shirt
Beveren	2001–2003	70	22	#42
Metalurh Donetsk	2004–2005	19	1	—
Barcelona	2007–2010	118	11	—
Manchester City	2010–2018	316	79	—
AS Monaco	2003–2004	12	1	—
Olympiacos	2005–2006	37	6	—
Qingdao Huanghai	2017–2018	10	1	—
Ivory Coast	—	101	19	—