Jean Michaël Seri (born 19 July 1991) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah and the Ivory Coast national team.

Jean Michaël Seri
Seri training with Nice in 2018
Personal information
Full name Jean Michaël Seri[1]
Date of birth (1991-07-19) 19 July 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Grand-Béréby, Ivory Coast
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Al-Orobah
Number 8
Youth career
2007–2010 Africa Sports d'Abidjan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 ASEC Mimosas 16 (1)
2012–2013Porto B (loan) 19 (1)
2013–2015 Paços de Ferreira 54 (2)
2015–2018 Nice 103 (12)
2018–2022 Fulham 65 (2)
2019–2020Galatasaray (loan) 27 (2)
2021Bordeaux (loan) 12 (0)
2022–2024 Hull City 76 (2)
2024– Al-Orobah 5 (1)
International career
2011 Ivory Coast U23 3 (0)
2015– Ivory Coast 62 (4)
Medal record
Representing  Ivory Coast
Men's football
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 2023 Ivory Coast
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:11, 5 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:37, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career in the Ivory Coast

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In his native Ivory Coast, the young Seri was nicknamed "Galla", because he tried to emulate the former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marcelo Gallardo, whose technical skills he admired. Seri joined the Ivorian football academy that was opened in 2001 by the Ivorian footballer Cyril Domoraud. "Jean is gifted, intelligent and respectful," Domoraud said in retrospect. "In his young days, he was one step ahead of the others, thanks to his ball control."[3]

Born in the south-western city of Grand-Béréby, Seri began his career as a youth player with Abidjan club Africa Sports d'Abidjan in July 2007.[4] The best clubs in Ivory Coast fought for his services. In January 2010, Seri started his career as a senior player by joining ASEC Mimosas, the most successful club in Ivorian football, where he needed just one season to prove himself and become one of the best players in the country. "He is a great listener, and his state of mind is impeccable," raved Sébastien Desabre, ASEC Mimosas's head coach from October 2010 to October 2012 when Seri was a senior player there, and that quality enabled Seri to make steady progress.[3]

Porto

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On 2 November 2012, Seri joined Primeira Liga club Porto on loan, after impressing their scouts. However, there was no place for Seri in the club's first team. He was thus forced to play for the club's reserve team, scoring once in 19 Segunda Liga matches in the first five months of 2013.[3][5][6]

Paços de Ferreira

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On 31 August 2013, two months after finishing his loan spell at Porto (the Dragões), Seri joined another Primeira Liga club Paços de Ferreira on a permanent basis and on a free transfer by signing a three-year deal.[7] He debuted for the Pacenses on 14 September 2013 against Benfica in a Primeira Liga 3–1 away loss.[8] On 2 March 2014, he scored a goal in the 54th minute to register his first competitive goal for Paços de Ferreira in a 3–1 Primeira Liga home win over Marítimo to send his side away from the relegation zone.[9] It was at Paços de Ferreira where Seri's magnificent range of passing and ability to dictate the tempo of the game made him a fans' favourite. The club finished in eighth place in the 2014–15 Primeira Liga, and Ligue 1 club Nice were quick to sign Seri before bigger clubs took notice.[3]

Nice

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Seri playing for Nice against FC Lokomotiv Moscow in 2018

On 11 June 2015, Seri officially joined Ligue 1 club Nice for a transfer fee of €1 million.[3][10][11] On 27 May 2015, prior to the opening of the transfer window, the club had announced the "very likely" arrival of Seri.[12][13] On 8 August 2015, Seri made his competitive debut for Nice in their opening match of the 2015–16 Ligue 1 season, playing the entire match in the 2–1 home loss to Monaco. On 27 September 2015, he scored in the 53rd minute to register his first competitive goal for Nice in a 4–1 Ligue 1 away win over Saint-Étienne.[6]

Fulham

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In July 2018, Seri joined Fulham on a four-year deal until 2022 with an option for Fulham to extend the contract by a further year.[14]

Seri scored his first goal for his new club on 26 August, opening the scoring against Burnley with a spectacular strike from outside the area. Seri picked the ball up and took one touch around an oncoming defender before curling in a long-range effort into the top corner of Joe Hart's net and the goal was awarded with the Premier League Goal of the Month for August.[15]

Loan to Galatasaray

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On 18 July 2019, Seri joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy.[16] Eventually, he would leave Galatasaray and return to Fulham at the end of the season.

Loan to Bordeaux

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On 30 January 2021, Seri joined Ligue 1 club Bordeaux on loan until the end of the season.[17]

Return to Fulham

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Following his return from his loan spell at Bordeaux, Seri began playing again for Fulham starting his first match for the club for the season against Huddersfield Town, which saw Fulham win 5–1 in the Championship on 14 August 2021.[18] On 2 May 2022, Seri both featured and scored in a 7–0 victory over Luton Town, this victory securing the Championship title for Fulham.[19] Despite promotion back to the Premier League, it was announced that Seri would be leaving the club at the end of his contract in June 2022.[20]

Hull City

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Seri returned to the Championship on 8 July 2022 to join Hull City on a three-year contract.[21] On 30 July 2022, he would mark his debut with the winning goal in a 2–1 home victory over Bristol City.[22] His next goal for the Tigers would come on 10 April 2024, scoring his side's second goal in a 2–2 draw with Middlesbrough.[23]

Al-Orobah

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On 23 August 2024, Seri signed for newly promoted Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah.[24]

International career

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Seri made a total of three appearances for the Ivory Coast under-23 team, all of them at the 2011 CAF U-23 Championship held in Morocco, playing every minute of all their three Group B matches against South Africa, Egypt and Gabon. Ivory Coast finished third in Group B and thus did not qualify for the semifinals.

On 27 February 2014, Seri received his first senior international call up for the Ivory Coast in an upcoming friendly match against Belgium;[25] he was an unused substitute in The Elephants' 2–2 away draw (held on 5 March 2014) against Belgium.[26] On 6 September 2015, Seri made his senior international debut in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Sierra Leone, playing the entire match in the 0–0 away draw. On 17 November 2015, Seri scored a goal in the 64th minute of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification second round second leg 3–0 home win over Liberia to register his first senior international goal.

Seri played two of Ivory Coast's three 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group C matches as they finished third in Group C and thus did not qualify for the quarter-finals. In the 2019 edition of the tournament he also made two group stage appearances, starting against South Africa and Morocco.[27]

Seri was a member of the Ivory Coast's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and started in all four of the team's matches as they reached the round of 16, losing 5–4 to Egypt in a penalty shootout.[28]

In December 2023, Seri was named in the Ivory Coast's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and ended up winning the tournament.[29][30][31]

Personal life

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Seri is a devout Christian.[32][33]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 5 October 2024[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Paços de Ferreira 2013–14 Primeira Liga 21 1 2 0 2 0 6[c] 0 2[d] 1 33 2
2014–15 Primeira Liga 33 1 2 0 0 0 35 1
Total 54 2 4 0 2 0 6 0 2 1 68 3
Nice 2015–16 Ligue 1 38 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 41 3
2016–17 Ligue 1 34 7 0 0 1 0 4[c] 0 39 7
2017–18 Ligue 1 31 2 2 0 1 0 9[e] 0 43 2
Total 103 12 3 0 4 0 13 0 123 12
Fulham 2018–19 Premier League 32 1 1 0 1 0 34 1
2020–21 Premier League 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
2021–22 Championship 33 1 1 0 0 0 34 1
Total 65 2 2 0 3 0 70 2
Galatasaray (loan) 2019–20 Süper Lig 27 2 3 0 6[f] 0 1[g] 0 37 2
Bordeaux (loan) 2020–21 Ligue 1 12 0 1 0 13 0
Hull City 2022–23 Championship 37 1 0 0 0 0 37 1
2023–24 Championship 39 1 0 0 0 0 39 1
2024–25 Championship 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 76 2 0 0 1 0 77 2
Al-Orobah 2024–25 Saudi Pro League 5 1 1 0 6 1
Career total 342 21 14 0 10 0 25 0 3 1 394 22
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, Coupe de France, FA Cup, Turkish Cup, King Cup
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga, Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in Primeira Liga relegation play-offs
  5. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  7. ^ Appearance in Turkish Super Cup

International

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As of match played 15 October 2024[34]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Ivory Coast 2015 4 1
2016 5 0
2017 8 0
2018 6 1
2019 7 1
2021 4 1
2022 11 0
2023 4 0
2024 13 0
Total 62 4
Scores and results list Ivory Coast's goal tally first.[34]
List of international goals scored by Jean Michaël Seri
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 November 2015 Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast   Liberia 3–0 3–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 18 November 2018 Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry, Guinea   Guinea 1–1 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 19 June 2019 Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates   Zambia 2–1 4–1 Friendly
4 13 November 2021 Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin   Mozambique 3–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Galatasaray

Fulham

Ivory Coast

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Player Profile". OGC Nice. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Arsenal target Jean Seri destined for big move after Nice displays". ESPN FC. 5 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Jean-Michaël Seri at FootballDatabase.eu". FootballDatabase.eu.
  5. ^ "Dragões garantem Jean-Michael Seri" [Dragons guarantee Jean-Michael Seri]. Record. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Jean Seri at Soccerway". Soccerway.
  7. ^ "FC Porto: Jean Michel Seri assina pelo P. Ferreira" [FC Porto: Jean Michel Seri signs for P. Ferreira]. MaisFutebol. 31 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Benfica 3–1 P. Ferreira". ZeroZero. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  9. ^ "P. Ferreira 3–1 Marítimo". ZeroZero. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Seri à Nice, c'est officiel" [Seri to Nice, it's official]. L'Equipe (in French). 11 June 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Jean-Michaël Seri : L'Ivoirien signe à Nice" [Jean-Michaël Seri: The Ivorian signs to Nice]. Africa Top Sports (in French). 11 June 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  12. ^ "P. Ferreira: Nice confirma contratação de Seri" [P. Ferreira: Nice confirms Seri signing]. MaisFutebol (in Portuguese). 27 May 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Jean-Michael Seri arrive aussi" [Jean-Michael Seri also arrives] (in French). OGC Nice. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Jean Michael Seri: Fulham sign Ivory Coast international from Nice". BBC Sport. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Seri strike wins Carling Goal of the Month for August 2018". Premier League. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Loan deal for Seri". BBC Sport. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Seri joins Bordeaux". Fulham FC. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Huddersfield Town 1–5 Fulham". BBC Sport. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Fulham 7–0 Luton Town: Fulham clinch Championship title with emphatic Luton victory". BBC Sport. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Player Departures". www.fulhamfc.com. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Seri signs for Hull City". www.wearehullcity.co.uk. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Hull City 2–1 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Hull City 2–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Seri signs for Al-Orobah". www.wearehullcity.co.uk. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Séri convocado para a seleção costa-marfinense" [Séri selected for the Ivorians]. Record. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  26. ^ "Belgium draws with Ivory Coast 2–2 in WCup warm-up". KansasCitySports. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  27. ^ "Ivory Coast Squad". ESPN. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Ivory Coast Squad". ESPN. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  29. ^ "LA LISTE" (in Portuguese). Ivorian Football Federation. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Facebook.
  30. ^ Sahi, Tristan (28 December 2023). "Côte d'Ivoire: voici les 27 Eléphants de Gasset, Zaha et des ténors font leurs adieux à la CAN 2023" (in French). 7info. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  31. ^ "CÔTE D'IVOIRE" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 5 January 2024.
  32. ^ Field, Dominic (6 October 2018). "Jean Michaël Seri: 'You have to take risks or you are just a water carrier'". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  33. ^ Baines, Ollie (5 September 2018). "Fulham star reveals why he snubbed Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool to join The Cottagers". X The Line. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  34. ^ a b "Seri, Jean Michaël". National Football Teams. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  35. ^ "TFF Süper Kupa 2019 Galatasaray'ın" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  36. ^ "Championship: 2021/22: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
    "Fulham: Squad details: 2021/22". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  37. ^ Stevens, Rob (11 February 2024). "Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  38. ^ "Trophées UNFP : le palmarès complet de l'édition 2017". Le Figaro (in French). 15 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  39. ^ "Mbappe, Cavani & Bernardo Silva lead Ligue 1 Team of the Season". Goal.com. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  40. ^ "PRIX MARC-VIVIEN FOE: PAST WINNERS OF THE LIGUE 1 PRIZE lead Ligue 1 Team of the Season". Goal.com. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  41. ^ "Seri and Cyprien are your MVP of the season". OGC Nice. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  42. ^ "Seri strike wins Carling Goal of the Month". Premier League. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  43. ^ "CAF TSG Group releases TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nation Cote d'Ivoire 2023 Best XI". CAF Online. Confederation of African Football. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
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