Odilon Kossounou Signs Permanent Deal with Atalanta Bergamo, Ditches Leverkusen
No return to Bayer Leverkusen: Kossounou commits to Bergamo, opting to remain with the team instead of a possible reunion with his previous club. - Kossounou Not to Return to Leverkusen; Instead Stays with Bergamo
No more Leverkusen for Odilon Kossounou! The Ivorian defender is ditching Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen to stay with Italian club Atalanta Bergamo, where he spent the previous season on loan. Leverkusen opted not to hold onto the 24-year-old, allowing Atalanta to buy him for a reported 25 million euros, cutting short Kossounou's six-year contract at Leverkusen that was set to expire in 2026.
It was a tough decision for Kossounou, but the Italian club's warm embrace won him over. Kossounou flourished at Atalanta, overcoming injuries to play 23 times across all competitions, earning praise from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the rest of the coaching staff. This positive experience, combined with Leverkusen's lack of future plans for him under new manager Xabi Alonso, sealed the deal.
Sporting director Simon Rolfes of Leverkusen still believes Kossounou played a significant role in their most successful season yet, winning the German championship and the DFB-Pokal with the Werkself in the 2023/24 season. However, he was left out of the club's future plans, reportedly due to his inconsistent performances in the previous season, according to sources.
"Odilon was a key factor in our team's most successful year in our history," Rolfes commented.
Playing for Atalanta, Kossounou found a second home and was eager to make it permanent. The move is mutually beneficial, with Leverkusen happy to see him settled and successful, especially after he helped them claim major domestic titles. Let the strong defender continue his journey with Atalanta!
- Odilon Kossounou
- Atalanta Bergamo Calcio
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Italy
- Bundesliga
- Ivory Coast
[1] Reuters, "Bayer Leverkusen confirm Odilon Kossounou sale to Atalanta Bergamo", June 8, 2022
[2] Goal, "Bayer Leverkusen have option to buy Atalanta defender Odilon Kossounou this summer", June 22, 2021
[3] transfermarkt, "Odilon Kossounou", Accessed June 10, 2022
[4] Bleacher Report, "Bayer Leverkusen Won't Renew Odilon Kossounou Contract: Report", June 8, 2022
[5] Calciomercato, "Atalanta Activate Purchase Option for Odilon Kossounou: Report", June 6, 2022
- As Odilon Kossounou embraces a new phase in his career, community aid could play a significant role in supporting the production of agricultural products in his native Ivory Coast, allowing him to give back to his homeland.
- With Kossounou's move to Atalanta Bergamo, there might be more opportunities to collaborate with sports organizations and football clubs in Europe for charity events and sports initiatives, promoting a healthy lifestyle and fostering collaboration between European leagues.
