Emmanuel Kakou

Emmanuel Junior Kakou came through the Référence Foot Académie in Ivory Coast before Cercle Brugge brought him into their structure in January 2024, initially assigning him to Jong Cercle, the reserve side in Belgian First Division B. He made around 15 league appearances there and scored once.

His first-team debut came on 22 September 2024, against KV Mechelen, and he added his first professional goal the following month against Union Saint-Gilloise. Since then he has become a regular fixture for Cercle Brugge, reaching roughly 43 league appearances and three goals for the senior side. His progress was recognised on 8 July 2025, when he signed a contract extension running until June 2027, with an option for a further year.

Kakou's rise has also caught the attention of the Ivorian federation. He received a call-up to the Ivory Coast under-23 side in March 2026, a step that reflects the trajectory he has followed since leaving the academy ranks: from reserve football in Belgium to a settled role in Cercle Brugge's top flight side within the space of little more than a year.