Leny Yoro has officially switched his international allegiance from France to Ivory Coast, dealing a blow to Les Bleus’ defensive depth while handing the Elephants a generational talent for their backline.
The 20-year-old Manchester United defender will now represent the country of his father’s heritage after being convinced by Ivorian head coach Hervé Renard during personal talks.
Born in Saint-Maurice, France, Yoro is of Ivorian descent through his father, Alain Yoro, a former footballer who played for Lille’s reserve team. He had represented France at various youth levels, including the U17s, and was part of the French Olympic squad.
However, he had not yet been capped by the senior French national team, which paved the way for him to switch his football nationality through FIFA without legal obstacles.
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The decision was not taken lightly. According to reports from the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), personal negotiations with Hervé Renard, who recently returned as head coach of the Elephants, proved decisive in convincing Yoro to commit to the Ivorian project.
Renard personally handled the case and persuaded the young defender to become part of the long-term vision for the national team.
Yoro’s integration into the Ivorian setup has also been eased by his club teammate Amad Diallo, who already represents Ivory Coast and played a role in helping the defender settle into the idea of playing for the Elephants. The two Manchester United players are now set to become international teammates as well.
Yoro’s arrival is expected to strengthen Ivory Coast’s central defence for years to come. The Elephants, who won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, have been actively persuading dual-nationality players based in Europe to represent the country. Yoro is the latest and one of the most high-profile additions to that strategy.
He is expected to receive his first official call-up for Ivory Coast’s September international fixtures, which will serve as qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
