Max Gradel

After moving to the UK from Paris, France, in 2004, Gradel attended Lewisham College Football Academy under the tutelage of then Head Coach Aaron Jacob, who was one of his early mentors. He attended the Bon Giourno Cup in the Netherlands, and the team went on to win the trophy, conceding no goals, with Gradel scoring 11 of 17. He was due to attend the Dallas Cup with the team but was offered a Pro contract and made the decision not to go. "Everything started at Lewisham College," says Gradel. "We were all good players in the Football Academy; I think I made it a bit by chance. Gradel began playing football in the Ivory Coast when he was two years old. After leaving Lewisham College, Gradel was offered trials with Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham United and Leicester City and spent four months with Arsenal before signing with Leicester. From there he moved to Leeds United where he played regularly for the Championship side. Gradel was given a squad number for the 2007–08 season. On 5 May 2007, he signed his first professional contract with Leicester along with seven other players, including Eric Odhiambo, Andy King and Carl Pentney.

Loan at AFC Bournemouth

On 6 August 2007, Leicester City manager Martin Allen made Gradel and Conrad Logan available for loan for the forthcoming season. Three days later, Gradel joined AFC Bournemouth on an initial one-month loan, which was extended for the season on transfer deadline day (31 August). However, he was unable to play as many…

Gradel revealed that by moving to Leeds, he was hoping to increase his international prospects to play for the Ivory Coast national team and maybe earn a place in their 2010 FIFA World Cup squad. He was called up to the Ivory Coast squad for the first time on 11 November 2010 for the fixture against Poland. On 21 March 2011, Gradel received his second call-up to the squad, this time to face Benin in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. In June 2011, he was called up to the squad to face Benin on 5 June 2011. This match ended in a 6–2 win to Ivory Coast, in which Gradel came on in the 54th min to make his debut. On 4 August, it was revealed Gradel had been called up to the Ivory Coast squad to face Israel. He made his first start for Ivory Coast in the 4–3 win against Israel on 10 August 2011. Gradel was a part of the Ivory Coast squad that finished runner-up to Zambia at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and was also a member of les Éléphants' 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, where he made one appearance in the 2–1 loss to Colombia. At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Gradel scored an 86th-minute equaliser in a group match against Mali. Ivory Coast would go on to win the tournament and Gradel was named in the team of the tournament. On 28 March 2023, he played his 100th international match in a 2–0 away win over Comoros, during the Africa Cup of Nations qualification. On 28 December 2023, Gradel was included in the final 27-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Ivory…

Club

As of match played 17 March 2024

International

As of match played 23 March 2024

Scores and results list Ivory Coast's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gradel goal.

Leicester City

Football League One: 2008–09 Leeds United

Football League One runner-up: 2009–10 Saint-Étienne

Coupe de la Ligue: 2012–13 Sivasspor

Turkish Cup: 2021–22 Ivory Coast

Africa Cup of Nations: 2015, 2023; runner-up: 2012 Individual

Leeds United Fans' Player of The Year: 2010–11 Leeds United Players' Player of the Year: 2010–11 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2015 Super Lig Winger of the Season: 2020–21 Süper Lig Team of the Season: 2020–21