Position: Forward
Born: 11.11.83
Club: PSV Eindhoven

Like many of his Ivory Coast team-mates, Arouna Kone started his professional career in Europe with Belgian side SK Lierse in 2002.

But after just one season, Roda JC took him to Holland's Eredivisie for 1million euros and he handled the step-up well, quickly gaining recognition as one of the league's brightest young talents with 28 goals in 62 games.

A proposed move to Ajax fell through in 2005 when he failed a medical, but PSV saw nothing wrong with him and he joined them on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent switch.

He has performed well at the Philips Stadion in his first season, and enhanced his reputation further at this year's African Nations Cup in Egypt.

Aruna Dindane's absence saw Kone and Bonaventure Kalou share the vacancy as Didier Drogba's strike partner and Kone scored against Egypt in the group stage and played well as the Ivory Coast reached the final.

Kone stands out on the pitch due to his bleached-blond hair but his pace, flair and quick feet are equally as striking.

He may find it hard to break the established partnership of Drogba and Dindane in Germany, but could be useful as a lively second-half substitute.

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