Richard Kone

Lopes Tavares/Athletic Newham

In 2019, after arriving in the United Kingdom to play in the Homeless World Cup, Kone began playing for Lopes Tavares, later to be renamed Athletic Newham, scoring 20 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions for the club in his first season at the club. In 2021, Athletic Newham were promoted to the Essex Senior League. During the club's first season in the league, Kone scored 42 goals in 48 games in all competitions, finishing as the league's top scorer with 31 goals. That season, he had trials with Colchester United as well as with a Premier League club. The following season, Kone scored 40 goals in all competitions. Despite the interest from teams in higher tiers, Kone's visa status prevented him from playing professional football. He was also part of the Athletic Newham team which reached the FA Vase fourth round for the first time before Athletic Newham were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player against the eventual runners-up Littlehampton Town.

Wycombe Wanderers

After scoring a further 21 goals for Newham from the start of the 2023–24 season, Kone joined Wycombe Wanderers in January 2024 on a permanent contract, after an extended trial. He had started his trial with Wycombe in the summer of 2023, and scored in friendly matches against Aldershot Town and Barnet. He made a goalscoring debut for Wycombe Wanderers on 9 January 2024, in the EFL Trophy quarter finals against West Ham United's under-21's, scoring the…

Kone represented the Ivory Coast at the Homeless World Cup in 2019. On 27 May 2025, he was called up to the Ivory Coast U23s for a friendly. Kone was called up to the senior Ivory Coast national team squad for the first time on 5 November 2025 for the friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Oman on 14 and 18 November and he was given shirt number 25. His debut came as a second half substitute during the 2–0 win against Oman.

Club

As of match played 24 October 2026

International

As of match played 18 November 2025

Kone came out as gay publicly as a teenager during the Homeless World Cup, explaining that he had become homeless after coming out to his family. He reconciled with his mother prior to playing in the Homeless World Cup in 2019. When he became a professional footballer in 2024, representatives said he did not want to comment on his personal life. He now has a female partner and child.