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Franck Boli
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Franck Boli (born 7 December 1993) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a forward.
Key Information
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Club career
[edit]Boli signed with Eliteserien side Stabæk Fotball on 3 January 2012.[2] The leader of sports at Stabæk Fotball, Inge André Olsen said; "Boli has many qualities, with his technically good finishing and quick pace".
On 26 February 2015, Boli signed for Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin.[3]
In 2016, Boli signed for the Norwegian club Aalesunds FK, in what the club claimed was a 1-year loan from Liaoning. In an article in the football magazine Josimar from 10 May 2019, NFF confirmed that Boli signed for Aalesunds FK on a free transfer from the Ivorian amateur club Williamsville AC before the 2016 season.[4]
Boli returned to Stabæk on 20 December 2016, signing a three-year contract with the club.[5] After he finished as top scorer of the 2018 Eliteserien, his contract was extended through 2021.[6]
Ferencváros
[edit]On 1 August 2019, Boli signed for Hungarian champions Ferencváros, making him the second Eliteserien signing of the team in two years, following breakout performer Tokmac Nguen.[7]
On 16 June 2020, Ferencváros clinched the championship by defeating Budapest Honvéd FC at the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion on the 30th match day of the 2019–20 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season.[8]
On 13 March 2023, Boli signed with Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers on a one-year deal.[9]
International career
[edit]Boli made his debut for the Ivory Coast national team on 3 September 2021 when he came on as a substitute for Jean Evrard Kouassi in the 62nd minute of a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mozambique which ended in a 0–0 away draw.[10]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 30 October 2022[11]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stabæk | 2012 | Tippeligaen | 28 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 33 | 6 | |
| 2013 | 1. divisjon | 26 | 6 | 4 | 3 | – | – | 30 | 9 | |||
| 2014 | Tippeligaen | 28 | 13 | 6 | 1 | – | – | 34 | 14 | |||
| Total | 82 | 24 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 29 | ||
| Liaoning Whowin | 2015 | Chinese Super League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Aalesund (loan) | 2016 | Tippeligaen | 27 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 29 | 6 | ||
| Stabæk | 2017 | Eliteserien | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 11 | 4 | ||
| 2018 | 29 | 17 | 3 | 3 | – | 2 | 0 | 34 | 20 | |||
| 2019 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 15 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 52 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 32 | ||
| Ferencváros | 2019–20 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 28 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 12 |
| 2020–21 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 14 | ||
| 2021–22 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 11 | ||
| 2022–23 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | ||
| Total | 83 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 42 | ||
| Career total | 264 | 85 | 29 | 16 | 35 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 330 | 109 | ||
Honours
[edit]Ferencváros
Individual
References
[edit]- ^ "Norvège : Franck Boli, attaquant à la vitesse explosive!!". letalentcache.net (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "Stabæk Fotball > Boli har signert for Stabæk". Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "Stabæk håver inn millioner etter Boli-salg". budstikka.no/ (in Norwegian). Budstikka. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ "Boli-mysteriet". 10 May 2019.
- ^ "Franck Boli har signert en treårsavtale med Stabæk". stabak.no (in Norwegian). Stabæk FC. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ "Eliteserietoppscorer Boli forlenget med Stabæk". nettavisen.no (in Norwegian). Nettavisen Sports. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ "NORVÉG GÓLKIRÁLYT IGAZOLTUNK!". fradi.hu (in Hungarian). Ferencváros. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ "NBI: A Honvéd legyőzésével bajnok lett a Ferencváros". Nemzeti Sport. 16 June 2020.
- ^ Timbers, Portland. "Timbers sign forward Franck Boli from Hungarian side Ferencvárosi TC". Portland Timbers.
- ^ "Mozambique v Côte d'Ivoire game report". FIFA. 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Franck Boli". nifs.no (in Norwegian). A-pressen. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
- ^ "Összejött a duplázás: a bajnokság után a Magyar Kupa is a Ferencvárosé!". Nemzeti Sport. 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Toppscorerliste 2018". Retrieved 25 November 2018.
External links
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Franck Boli
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Early life
Family and background
Franck Boli was born on 7 December 1993 in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. He holds Ivorian nationality and grew up in a family deeply rooted in football traditions.[1] Boli is the son of Fulbert Boli, a former professional footballer who represented the Ivorian national team during his career. His family background includes other relatives involved in the sport, such as uncles who also played professionally, fostering an environment where football was a central part of his upbringing. Despite this heritage, his father initially encouraged him to prioritize education over pursuing a career in football, advising him to "forget football, think education."[8][9][10] At the age of 17, Boli relocated from Ivory Coast to Bærum, Norway, after being scouted and recruited from a Norwegian-owned football academy, Sport-Consultant, in Abidjan. This move marked a significant shift in his development, exposing him to the Norwegian football system and culture from an early stage in his professional journey, while he resided at Holtekilen Folkehøgskole and trained with Stabæk's youth team.[8]Youth career in Norway
Following his relocation to Norway in 2010 at the age of 17, Franck Boli joined Stabæk's youth system after being scouted through the Norwegian-owned Sport-Consultant academy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[8] He initially participated in youth activities with the club during trial periods, including a notable performance at the JET youth tournament in Hamar in 2010, where he was the top scorer with seven goals.[8] Boli progressed through Stabæk's junior ranks over the next two years, balancing training sessions with the youth team and occasional sessions with the senior squad to build his experience.[8] This period allowed him early immersion in the Norwegian football style, characterized by high physical demands and emphasis on technical proficiency, which honed his attributes as a forward while adapting to the competitive environment at Holtekilen Folkehøgskole, a facility arranged by the club.[8] In December 2011, on his 18th birthday, Boli signed his first professional contract with Stabæk, marking the transition from youth development to senior opportunities ahead of the 2012 season.[8]Club career
Stabæk (first stint, 2012–2015)
Boli signed a professional contract with Stabæk Fotball on 3 January 2012, transitioning from the club's youth setup to the senior team in the Norwegian Eliteserien.[10] He made his professional debut for Stabæk on 25 March 2012, starting in a 0–0 league draw against Aalesund at Nadderud Stadion.[11] Boli scored his first goal for the club on 1 May 2012 in a 3–0 Norwegian Cup win over Lommedalen.[11] Over his first stint from 2012 to early 2015, Boli established himself as a key attacker, accumulating 82 appearances and 24 goals across all competitions while helping Stabæk navigate relegation in 2012 and promotion back to the Eliteserien in 2014.[6] In the 2012 Eliteserien season, he featured in 28 league matches, scoring 5 goals despite the team's bottom-place finish and relegation.[6] The following year in the OBOS-ligaen, Boli played 26 matches and netted 6 goals, contributing to Stabæk's successful promotion campaign. The 2014 season marked Boli's breakthrough in the top flight, where he scored 14 goals in all competitions—including 13 in 28 league appearances—establishing him as one of the league's most promising young strikers and aiding Stabæk to a mid-table ninth-place finish.[6] Operating primarily as a centre-forward, Boli thrived in Stabæk's possession-oriented style within the technically demanding Norwegian league, using his pace and finishing to lead the line effectively.[12] His contract with the club expired at the end of 2014, paving the way for his move abroad in February 2015.[10]Liaoning Whowin and loan to Aalesund (2015–2016)
In February 2015, Franck Boli transferred from Stabæk to Chinese Super League club Liaoning Whowin for a reported fee of €700,000.[13] This move marked his first venture abroad, following a promising start to his professional career in Norway where he had scored 24 goals in 91 appearances for Stabæk.[3] During the 2015 season, Boli made 20 league appearances for Liaoning, starting 14 matches and accumulating 1,428 minutes on the pitch, but he did not score any goals as the team finished 12th in the league.[6] Seeking more playing time and a return to familiar surroundings, Boli joined Norwegian club Aalesund on loan from Liaoning in March 2016, with the deal running until the end of the year.[13] In the 2016 Eliteserien season, he featured in 29 matches across all competitions, scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists, with 6 of those goals coming in league play.[14] His contributions helped Aalesund secure a mid-table ninth-place finish, ensuring the team avoided relegation.[15] The loan spell concluded in December 2016, after which Boli became a free agent and departed Liaoning permanently, paving the way for his return to European football.[16]Stabæk (second stint, 2017–2019)
Boli rejoined Stabæk on a free transfer from Liaoning on 1 January 2017, signing a three-year contract after his loan spell at Aalesund.[17] His return marked a resurgence, as he quickly integrated into the squad despite joining midway through the 2017 Eliteserien season. Over the course of his second stint, Boli made 52 league appearances and scored 27 goals, contributing significantly to the team's stability in the top flight.[6] In 2017, limited to 10 appearances due to his late arrival, Boli netted 4 goals, helping Stabæk finish 9th in the Eliteserien and avoid relegation concerns.[18] His form peaked in 2018, where he played 29 matches and scored 17 goals to become the Eliteserien's top scorer, a feat that earned him individual acclaim as the league's leading marksman.[19] Boli's scoring included five braces, showcasing his clinical finishing and physical presence as a forward, which were instrumental in Stabæk's 14th-place finish that season.[20] These performances built on the maturity gained from his time abroad, refining his positioning and hold-up play. The 2019 season saw Boli maintain his productivity with 13 appearances and 6 goals before departing, aiding Stabæk to an 8th-place standing.[21] His contributions ensured consistent mid-table security for the club across the three years. On 4 August 2019, Boli transferred to Hungarian side Ferencváros for a €2 million fee, the highest of his career up to that point, signaling his elevation to a competitive European league.[16]Ferencváros (2019–2023)
On 4 August 2019, Franck Boli transferred to Ferencváros from Stabæk for a reported fee of €2 million, following his standout performance as the Eliteserien's top scorer the previous season.[16] He quickly integrated into the squad, making his debut in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers shortly after arriving. Over his tenure, Boli made 126 appearances and scored 42 goals across all competitions, establishing himself as a key attacking option in the Hungarian top flight.[22] Boli played a pivotal role in Ferencváros' domestic successes, contributing to four consecutive Nemzeti Bajnokság I titles from 2019–20 to 2022–23, where the team dominated the league with strong offensive outputs. In the 2021–22 season, he helped secure the Magyar Kupa, scoring crucial goals en route to the final victory over Debreceni VSC.[23] His consistent goal-scoring, including 28 goals in 84 league appearances, underscored his importance to the team's title defenses and cup triumphs.[6] In European competitions, Boli featured prominently in UEFA Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, as well as group stage matches, providing Ferencváros with vital attacking threat during their continental campaigns. Notable performances included a brace in a 3-2 qualifying loss to Young Boys in 2021 and a dramatic 90th-minute equalizer against Dynamo Kyiv in the 2020–21 Champions League group stage, securing a 2-2 draw.[24] These efforts highlighted his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes fixtures.[22] Boli departed Ferencváros as a free agent on 13 March 2023 when he signed with the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.[22]Portland Timbers and Atlético San Luis (2023–2025)
On 13 March 2023, Franck Boli signed with Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers on a one-year contract with an option for 2024, marking his transition from European football to North America.[22] His prior experience with Ferencváros, where he adapted to high-intensity European competitions, briefly aided his integration into the faster-paced MLS environment. During the 2023 season, Boli made 18 appearances in league play, scoring 7 goals while starting 18 matches and accumulating 1,457 minutes.[25] Boli faced challenges with team rotations under Portland's coaching staff, which limited his consistent starting role amid competition from other forwards, and he dealt with minor fitness issues that affected his rhythm in the physically demanding league. The Timbers declined to exercise his 2024 option, leading to his departure as a free agent in January 2024.[26] Boli then joined Liga MX side Atlético San Luis on 4 January 2024, signing a two-year deal as a free transfer to bolster their attacking options. Over his time with Atlético San Luis from January 2024 to May 2025, he recorded 26 league appearances and 8 goals across the Clausura and Apertura tournaments as well as the early 2025 Clausura, contributing significantly to the team's offensive output despite ongoing adaptation to Liga MX's tactical and physical demands.[27][6] Injuries, including a thigh issue that sidelined him periodically, along with squad rotations, interrupted his form during this period.[28] Boli left Atlético San Luis as a free agent following the conclusion of the 2024–25 Liga MX season in May 2025, after 28 total appearances for the club. He remained without a club until August 2025.[29]Wadi Degla (2025–present)
In August 2025, Franck Boli signed with Wadi Degla FC as a free agent, marking his return to African football after stints in Europe and North America.[2] The 31-year-old Ivorian centre-forward joined the club on 20 August, bringing his experience to a squad recently promoted back to the Egyptian Premier League after a four-year absence from the top flight.[1][30] Since arriving, Boli has established himself as a key attacking option in Wadi Degla's rebuilding efforts, starting regularly as the team's primary centre-forward.[1] In the 2025/26 Egyptian Premier League season, he has made 10 appearances, scoring 3 goals while accumulating 475 minutes on the pitch, with no assists recorded.[31] Disciplinarily, Boli has received 2 yellow cards but no red cards, reflecting his competitive but controlled style in the league.[31] Boli's move to Wadi Degla was motivated by a desire for consistent playing time following limited opportunities in Mexico, allowing him to reconnect with his African roots through club football in Egypt.[2] As of November 2025, his market value remains at €800,000, and his contract with the club has an undisclosed expiry date.[1] With Wadi Degla aiming to solidify its position in the Premier League, Boli's contributions—highlighted by a recent goal in a 1–1 draw against Haras El-Hodoud on 5 November—position him as a pivotal figure for the team's ongoing development.[32]International career
Senior debut
Franck Boli earned his first and only senior cap for the Ivory Coast national team on 3 September 2021, during a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mozambique that ended in a 0–0 draw.[33] He entered the match as a substitute in the 62nd minute, replacing Jean Evrard Kouassi, and played the remainder without scoring or assisting.[33][34] Boli's selection came after a strong start to the 2021–22 season at Ferencváros, where his goal-scoring form in the Hungarian NB I earned him a call-up to the 30-man squad announced by head coach Patrice Beaumelle in late August.[35] This appearance occurred amid Ivory Coast's Group D qualification campaign, where the Elephants, under Beaumelle's guidance, aimed to secure a top-two spot alongside matches against Cameroon and Malawi; the frustrating draw in Maputo highlighted early struggles in the group, though Ivory Coast finished second with 13 points from six games, advancing to the third round alongside Cameroon.[35][36]National team appearances
Franck Boli has made one appearance for the senior Ivory Coast national team, scoring no goals, as of November 2025.[11][37] His only cap occurred during a 0-0 draw with Mozambique in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on 3 September 2021.[38] Ivory Coast did not qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, thus Boli had no opportunity for further involvement in that tournament. Boli was not selected for the Ivory Coast squad at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which the nation hosted and won, held from 13 January to 11 February 2024.[39] Born in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Boli is eligible solely to represent the Elephants and has no recorded youth international appearances.[1] Despite his professional success in club football across Europe and North America, Boli's limited senior international exposure reflects the depth of talent in Ivory Coast's forward line, as evidenced by their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations triumph without him.Career statistics
Club statistics
Franck Boli has accumulated 304 appearances and 97 goals in domestic league play across his career as of November 17, 2025, with additional contributions in cup and continental competitions bringing his overall club totals to approximately 379 appearances, 128 goals, and 32 assists.[40][41] His statistics reflect stints at multiple clubs, including loans that split playing time, such as his 2016 loan from Liaoning Whowin to Aalesund, where appearances were attributed to the parent club for transfer purposes but recorded under the loan team for performance data.Domestic Leagues
The table below summarizes Boli's appearances, goals, and assists in domestic league competitions by season and club.| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Stabæk | Eliteserien | 28 | 5 | 1 |
| 2014 | Stabæk | Eliteserien | 28 | 13 | 2 |
| 2015 | Liaoning Whowin | Chinese Super League | 20 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | Aalesund (loan) | Eliteserien | 27 | 6 | 2 |
| 2017 | Stabæk | Eliteserien | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | Stabæk | Eliteserien | 29 | 17 | 2 |
| 2019 | Stabæk | Eliteserien | 13 | 6 | 1 |
| 2019–20 | Ferencváros | NB I | 28 | 10 | 3 |
| 2020–21 | Ferencváros | NB I | 28 | 10 | 4 |
| 2021–22 | Ferencváros | NB I | 19 | 5 | 2 |
| 2022–23 | Ferencváros | NB I | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | Portland Timbers | MLS | 29 | 7 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | Atlético San Luis | Liga MX | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024–25 | Atlético San Luis | Liga MX | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | Wadi Degla | Egyptian Premier League | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 304 | 97 | 25 |
Domestic Cups and Other Competitions
Boli has appeared in various domestic cup competitions, contributing 25 goals and 5 assists in approximately 60 matches. Key examples include 8 goals in 12 Norwegian Cup appearances with Stabæk (2012–2019) and 4 goals in 10 Magyar Kupa matches with Ferencváros (2019–2023). In the 2023 Leagues Cup with Portland Timbers, he recorded 2 goals in 4 appearances. No cup appearances recorded for Wadi Degla as of November 2025. Loan periods, such as at Aalesund, included 2 goals in 3 NM Cup matches.| Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stabæk | Norwegian Cup | 12 | 8 | 2 |
| Aalesund (loan) | Norwegian Cup | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Ferencváros | Magyar Kupa | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Portland Timbers | Leagues Cup | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Atlético San Luis | Copa MX | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Other cups | Various | 26 | 8 | 2 |
| Total | 60 | 25 | 5 |
European and Continental Competitions
During his time at Ferencváros, Boli featured in UEFA competitions, scoring 6 goals in 15 appearances. This includes 2 goals in 5 UEFA Champions League qualifiers (2021–2022) and 3 goals in 7 UEFA Europa League matches (2019–2020, 2022–2023). No continental appearances with other clubs as of 2025.[6]| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Ferencváros | UEFA Europa League | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021–22 | Ferencváros | UEFA Champions League | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Ferencváros | UEFA Europa League | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 15 | 6 | 2 |
International statistics
Franck Boli has earned one cap for the Ivory Coast senior national team, with no goals or assists recorded.[43] His sole appearance came as a substitute in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mozambique on 3 September 2021, where he played 28 minutes in a 0–0 draw.[33] As of November 2025, he has not received any additional call-ups or appearances for the national team.[37]| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
Honours
Club honours
During his tenure with Ferencváros from 2019 to 2023, Franck Boli won four consecutive Nemzeti Bajnokság I titles and one Magyar Kupa, contributing 28 goals across those successful campaigns.[7] Ferencváros- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2019–20 (10 goals by Boli), 2020–21 (10 goals), 2021–22 (5 goals), 2022–23 (3 goals). Boli's scoring output helped secure these titles, with Ferencváros dominating the Hungarian top flight under his contributions.[7][44]
- Magyar Kupa: 2021–22. Boli scored twice in the final, securing a 3–0 victory over Paksi FC at Puskás Aréna.[45]