J. Fofana

Yaya Fofana spent three years learning the game at Afrique Football Élite in Bamako before a free transfer took him to RC Lens in August 2022, where he signed a five-year contract. The move never produced a first-team appearance: he was kept with the reserves in Championnat National 3, where he made ten appearances and scored once.

Reims took him on a free transfer in July 2023. He made his first appearance for the club in the Coupe de France in January 2024, then followed it with a Ligue 1 debut against Toulouse the following month, coming on in the 82nd minute of a match Reims lost 3-2. Over the 2024/2025 season he appeared in the league on a dozen occasions and contributed a goal and an assist. An ankle injury in December 2024 interrupted that campaign.

Reims rewarded his progress in November 2024 with a contract extension running to 2029. He also received international recognition, being called up to the Ivory Coast Olympic team in 2024 for a single appearance.

The 2025/2026 season saw him feature in Ligue 2 rather than the top flight, making nine appearances and registering an assist. Among those outings, a goal against Marseille stood out.