Chelsea’s defensive rock Kalidou Koulibaly: Who the hell are you? (Vol. 22)
Chelsea has been linked with almost every available centerback not registered with the club this summer. Nathan Ake, Matthijs de Ligt and Jules Kounde are three names that have been recurring transfer updates for the Blues over the past week. However, Kalidou Koulibaly is different in the fact that he has been linked with Chelsea every transfer window for the past five years. Luckily, the discussions ramped up swiftly and got very serious very quickly this time. In the space of hours, Koulibaly went from possible option on the list to a deal that 95% done. Many fans, of course, are excited—duh, it’s a new signing—but who exactly is the former Napoli centerback that fans have longed for and what does he bring to the side?
It’s time to explore this question much further as we discuss who the hell Kalidou Koulibaly is as both a person and a football player.
1. History
Koulibaly was born in France in June 1991. He began his youth footballing career at French club Saint Die, where he spent four years. Following his debut stint in Saint Die’s youth academy, the young defender went on to spend three years at Metz. He returned to his old stomping grounds of Saint Die after that spell, where he spent another three years. Any guesses as to where he went after that? If you had a return to Metz on your mind, you’d be correct. During his second spell there, he spent one year in the academy before being promoted to Metz’s senior team in 2010.
Koulibaly would go on to make 42 appearances for Metz in all competitions before to moving to KRC Genk, where he made 92 appearances in total. He moved to the club we all now know him for, SSC Napoli, for €7.8 million in July 2014. The Senegalese international would go on to make 317 appearances for the Naples-based club over his eight-year career there as he became not only one of the best defenders in the game, but also a club legend for his efforts.
Koulibaly boasts 236 Serie A appearances, 41 Ligue 2 appearances and 52 Jupiler Pro League appearances throughout his entire career. He clearly has experience across several competitions and across several countries, so there is little doubting his overall abilities. It also helps his case that Italy is known as the home of legendary defenders—especially centerbacks—remembering household names like Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.
Koulibaly is also a seasoned international footballer. He made 11 appearances for the France U20s, but ultimately chose to play for Senegal as a senior international. He has been capped 62 times for the Lions throughout his career. Koulibaly is not just a seasoned professional, but he’s also a leader, as shown in the fact that he captains his country and sometimes led his old club.