Jimmy Kébé

Early life and career

Jimmy Boubou Kébé was born on 19 January 1984 in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne. He started his footballing career at RC Lens. He played predominately for the B team before having successful loan spells at clubs Châteauroux and Boulogne.

Reading

On 16 January 2008, Kébé agreed to join Reading after being spotted by the then scout Brian McDermott, but his then club Boulogne initially refused to let him end his season-long loan early. Kébé went on strike in order for Boulogne to release him from his loan spell early to join Reading. On 28 January 2008, Reading announced that Kébé had signed a 2+1⁄2-year contract with them, moving for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut for Reading as a substitute, coming on for John Oster late into a 1–0 away defeat to Everton on 9 February 2008 and should have opened his Reading account minutes later. He scored his first Reading goal in the 1–2 home defeat against Southampton on 22 November 2008. On 6 December 2008 he was sent off for the first time in his Reading career for aiming an elbow towards Barnsley defender Dennis Souza. Kébé has since extended his contract until the summer of 2012. 2010 saw an up-turn in Kébé's goal-scoring form, notching up 13 goals in the Championship in the 2010 calendar year. On 21 August 2010, Kébé played his 100th game for Reading, appearing in a 1–1 home draw with Nottingham Forest. The 2011–12 season saw a further development in Kébé's position at Reading, with a…

He was part of the Mali football team at the 2004 Summer Olympics, finishing top of Group A, but losing to Italy 1–0 (aet) in the next round.

Club

International

Reading

Football League Championship: 2011–12