Amadou Koné, the 20-year-old midfielder, has officially departed Stade de Reims. His new destination is Neom SC, a club recently promoted to the Saudi Arabian football league system.
Despite Stade de Reims` relegation to Ligue 2 last season, Koné, alongside midfield partner Valentin Atangana, concluded the campaign having significantly boosted their reputations. Following the club`s drop from the top flight, Koné`s departure was widely anticipated, and he had attracted interest from various clubs across Europe.
Among the potential suitors were Premier League newcomers Leeds United and OGC Nice, who are set to participate in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers later this summer. However, Koné ultimately decided to make the move to Neom, who will be competing in the Saudi Pro League next season.
The transfer fee for the young midfielder is reported to be in the region of €12 million. Koné is expected to be one of several players arriving at the Saudi side from Ligue 1 this transfer window. High-profile moves for players like Alexandre Lacazette are reportedly close to being finalised, while Nice`s Marcin Bulka and Olympique Lyonnais` Corentin Tolisso have also been linked as targets for Neom.
