# Yakou Méïté

Yakou Méïté (born 11 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Cardiff City. Born in France, he represents the Ivory Coast at international level.

## Early life

Méïté was born and raised in France to Ivorian parents.

## Club career
### Paris Saint Germain

Méïté started his professional career at Paris Saint-Germain. He made his professional debut on 9 April 2016, in a Ligue 1 match against Guingamp, replacing Jean-Kévin Augustin after 91 minutes, in a 2–0 away win.

### Reading

On 29 July 2016, Méïté signed a three-year contract with English side Reading. He made his debut for Reading as a substitute in an EFL Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle on 9 August 2016, with his first goal for the club coming on 21 January 2017, during a 3–2 defeat to Derby County in the Championship.
On 8 July 2017, Méïté moved to Sochaux, on a season-long loan deal.
On 3 October 2018, Reading announced that Méïté had signed a new contract with Reading, until the summer of 2022. On his return to Reading, he became a mainstay as the club's striker and scored 6 goals in 5 games, impressing manager Paul Clement.
In August 2019, Méïté spoke out about racist abuse he received on social media. He said he chose to do so due to the impact it had on players. On 4 July 2020, he scored four goals in a 5–0 win away at Luton Town.
On 17 May 2023, Reading announced that they had offered a new contact to Méïté, with his current deal due to expire at the end of June 2023. On 21 June 2023, Méïté confirmed his decision to leave Reading at the end of his contract.

### Cardiff City

On 7 July 2023, Méïté signed a two-year contract with Cardiff City.

## International career

Méïté has represented the Ivory Coast U17s and U20s. He debuted for the Ivory Coast U23s in a 5–0 friendly win over the Togo U23s on 27 March 2018.
Méïté was called up to the senior Ivory Coast squad for a friendly against Togo in March 2018. He was selected for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea on 18 November 2018. He made his debut for the Ivory Coast on 26 March 2019, in a 1–0 victory over Liberia, playing 73 minutes before being replaced by eventual goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia.

## Style of play

Méïté is a physically strong player. He has impressive strength, ability in the air, speed and tireless stamina. Paul Clement praised him for his workrate and willingness to battle for every ball.

## Personal life

Yakou Meïté is the cousin of Bamo Meïté, who is also a professional footballer.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Paris Saint-Germain B | 2013–14 | CFA | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Paris Saint-Germain B | 2014–15 | CFA | 20 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 6 |
| Paris Saint-Germain B | 2015–16 | CFA | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 2 |
| Paris Saint-Germain B | Total | Total | 45 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 8 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reading | 2016–17 | Championship | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Reading | 2018–19 | Championship | 37 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 40 | 13 |
| Reading | 2019–20 | Championship | 40 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 45 | 17 |
| Reading | 2020–21 | Championship | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 12 |
| Reading | 2021–22 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Reading | 2022–23 | Championship | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 4 |
| Reading | Total | Total | 156 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165 | 47 |
| Reading U21 | 2016–17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sochaux (loan) | 2017–18 | Ligue 2 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 5 |
| Cardiff City | 2023–24 | Championship | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 2 |
| Cardiff City | 2024–25 | Championship | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 2 |
| Cardiff City | Total | Total | 66 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 4 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 298 | 57 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 313 | 64 |
* ↑ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
* ↑ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
* ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy

### International

    As of match played 13 October 2019
Ivory Coast :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |

## Honours

Paris Saint-Germain U19
* Championnat National U19: 2015–16
* UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2015–16
Paris Saint-Germain
* Ligue 1: 2015–16