Owen Kouassi

Owen Kouassi
Personal information
Full name Christ-Owen Kouassi Bathele
Date of birth (2003-04-15) 15 April 2003
Place of birth Paris, France[1]
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Lecce
Number 21
Youth career
2015–2016 ESD Montreuil
2016–2020 US Fontenay
2020–2024 Laval
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024–2025 Laval 33 (2)
2025– Lecce 0 (0)
International career
2025– Ivory Coast U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:37, 29 June 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:23, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

Christ-Owen Kouassi Bathele (born 15 April 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Italian Serie A club Lecce. Born in France, he is a youth international for the Ivory Coast.

Club career

Laval

Kouassi is a product of the youth academies of ESD Montreuil, US Fontenay, and Laval.[2] On 30 June 2024, he signed his first professional contract with Laval until 2027.[3] He made his senior and professional debut with Laval in a 2–1 Ligue 2 loss to Grenoble on 16 August 2024.[4]

Lecce

On 29 June 2025, Kouassi signed a 4-year contract with Serie A club Lecce.[5]

International career

Born in France, Kouassi is of Ivorian descent.[1] On 27 May 2025, he was called up to the Ivory Coast U23s for a friendly.[6] He debuted with the Ivory Coast U23s in a friendly 3–0 loss to the Netherlands U23s on 6 June 2025.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Attisso, John (28 December 2024). "Le Stade Brestois cible Christ-Owen Kouassi pour cet hiver".
  2. ^ "Stade lavallois. Owen Kouassi, "la surprise de la préparation" pour qui tout commence". www.oxygeneradio.com.
  3. ^ BRUNEL, Chloé (30 July 2024). "Owen Kouassi sera le numéro 21!". Stade Lavallois Mayenne FC.
  4. ^ "Stade lavallois. Le jeune Owen Kouassi passe professionnel avec Laval". www.oxygeneradio.com.
  5. ^ "Serie A: Christ-Owen Kouassi joins Lecce". onefootball.com. 29 June 2025.
  6. ^ SARL, NAS (24 May 2025). "Amical U23 : Issa Fofana, Abakar Sylla, Malick Yalcouyé, Richard Koné, … la liste des Eléphanteaux face à la Hollande". Mondialsport.ci.
  7. ^ "Netherlands U21 vs Côte d'Ivoire U23: U21 National Team Friendlies stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport.