Promising Malian Striker Joins Stade Reims

Malian international forward El Bilal Toure has joined Stade Reims from Afrique Foot Elite, the French club announced Friday.

Toure, 19, was part of the Mali squad that won the Under-20 Africa cup of Nations last year. He scored 17 goals in 23 appearances for Afrique Foot Elite last season.

“Reims is delighted to announce the acquisition of El Bilal Toure on a five-year deal. He’s a young forward with remarkable physical attributes, which he displayed at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations last year in Niger,” said Reims director-general Mathieu Lacour.

Toure, who was the talking point at the last year’s Mali Sports Awards, was reportedly tracked by Arsenal after he was named in the team of the tournament at the 2019 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

“I feel good and happy to make it here because it’s a dream come true for me,” he told the club website as translated from French.

Toure began his career at Ivorie Academy in Yamoussoukro before moving to Afrique Foot Elite in February 2017.

Reims are currently standing sixth on the French Ligue 1 table with 28 points and they will next meet Strasbourg on Tuesday 7 January in a Coupe de La Ligue quarterfinal match at Stade de Auguste-Delaune.