DONE DEAL: Atalanta purchase AFCON winner from Bayer

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Saturday Jun 14, 2025. 13:00

Ivory Coast international Odilon Kossounou has officially completed a €25 million transfer to Atalanta BC.

This comes after the Italian Serie A club activated their purchase option following the 24-year-old defender’s loan spell from German side Bayer Leverkusen.

Kossounou joined Atalanta in Italy on loan with an option to buy in August 2014, but despite making just 18 appearances in Serie A, the Goddess have decided to purchase him.

“Atalanta BC announce the permanent signing of Odilon Kossounou from Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball,” a club statement read.

“During his last season spell at Atalanta, the Ivorian defender born in 2001 donned the black-and-blue shirt for a total of 23 appearances (16 as a starter) across all competitions, namely: 18 games in the 2024/25 Serie A Enilive, 4 UEFA Champions League caps and 1 in the Italian Super Cup.”

“The Percassi and Pagliuca families, along with the entire Nerazzurri club, gladly welcome the successful completion of today’s transfer and extend their sincere wishes to Odilon for continued success – both personally and with the team – as he furthers his commitment in black-and-blue.”

Kossounou won two Belgian league titles and a domestic Super Cup with Club Brugge; a domestic treble (Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and a German Super Cup) with Bayer Leverkusen.

He also lifted the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title with Ivory Coast, for whom he has earned 25 International appearances to date.