A deal is in place for Canada midfielder Ismaël Koné to be sold by English club Watford to French team Olympique Marseille, according to Adam Leventhal of The Athletic.
A deal in principle has been agreed upon between the two clubs, according to Leventhal, with only fine details remaining to be sorted. The fee is reportedly around US$19 million.
The 22-year-old Koné, who is currently playing for Canada at the Copa América, has been with Watford since December 2022, having moved there from MLS club CF Montreal. Koné was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but grew up in Montreal after moving when he was seven.
Watford currently plays in England’s second-tier Championship division, while Marseille recently finished eighth in France’s top division, Ligue 1.
Koné has risen quickly through the ranks, both domestically and internationally, and has been capped 21 times by Canada, starting both games at the Copa América.
He isn’t the only Canadian player attracting transfer attention from Ligue 1. According to soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, Olympique Lyon has started talks with the Colorado Rapids of the MLS to sign defender Moise Bombito, who is also currently with the national men’s team.
