Simon Kofi Adingra was born in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, on January 1, 2002. A football fanatic from a young age, he watched football everywhere, especially on TV. Watching players like Didier Drogba made him fall deeply in love with the beautiful game.
Simon Adingra often played football in the streets, shuttling between school and football training. When he was 12, the young Ivorian and nine of his friends were scammed by a ‘football agent’ who reportedly promised to set them up at an academy in Benin. After collecting a payment of £300 per player, he took them to Benin and abandoned them there, leaving them to fend for themselves. They ended up washing plates and doing menial jobs to ensure their survival.
Fortunately, an Ivorian spotted them in Benin. Recognizing their footballing talent, he gathered the boys together with the aim of creating a football academy. He recruited other boys and realized his dream of creating an academy in Benin.
After spending years in the academy, a youth football tournament came up in Accra, Ghana, and they went to partake in it. Some scouts from the famed Right to Dream Academy in Ghana watched his performances and were impressed.
They offered him a trial at the academy, and he was subsequently recruited. He had a great time there, although he initially struggled with the language barrier due to his inability to speak English, eventually he got the hang of it. Simon Adingra played with the likes of Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mohammed Kudus at the academy. He spent approximately two years at the academy before Europe came calling.
His exceptional performances at the Right to Dream Academy paved the way for a move to Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjælland in January 2020. Despite joining in January 2020, he had to wait till April 18, 2021, to make his professional debut for the club. He came on as a substitute against FC Copenhagen in a league match, grabbing his maiden goal to help his team secure a 2-2 draw. A dream debut for the youngster!
His breakthrough at FC Nordsjaelland came in the 2021/2022 season, registering nine goals and three assists across thirty-one league appearances. He caught the eye of English Premier League side Brighton FC, who subsequently splashed a reported €8 million fee to bring the teenage sensation to the club.
The youngster was loaned to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for the 2022/2023 season, where he was exceptional. He grabbed a sensational solo goal on his debut to help them salvage a draw against STVV. His performances were very vital to the Belgian club, being a member of the team that went all the way to the Europa League Quarter finals.
He recorded double figures in goals and assists across all competitions during his stint in the Belgian Pro League.
He returned to Brighton FC at the start of the 2023/2024 season, finally making his long-awaited debut for the club in their opening Premier League fixture as a substitute on August 13, 2023, grabbing his first goal in the same match. Debut goals are fast becoming a norm for him.
Subsequently, he grabbed an assist to help Brighton on their way to a 3-1 win against Manchester United on his first start for the club. He scored a sublime solo goal against Sheffield United on November 12, 2023, repeatedly tormenting the Sheffield players throughout the match.
His return from AFCON 2023 was vital to Brighton, scoring a brace against Sheffield United in The Seagulls’ 5-0 rout of The Blades in the second half of the season. He’ll be proud of his efforts in his memorable debut season in the English League.
An Ivorian to the core, he has been a constant presence in the Ivorian national football team ever since he started gaining recognition. He received his call-up in March 2023 for their AFCON qualification matches but was an unused substitute. He made his debut for his country by coming on as a half-time substitute for Idrissa Doumbia in a 3-0 loss to Zambia on June 17, 2023.
He starred for his country at AFCON 2023, putting in exemplary performances on the biggest stage. He didn’t play a major role at the start of the tournament as Ivory Coast scrounged their way to the knockout stages, but the young winger was patient and kept bidding his time on the bench.
A man down and a goal down in their quarter-final fixture against Mali, he forced the game to extra time with a stoppage-time equalizer. He failed to have a goal contribution in the semifinals, but his performances helped his side to the final.
On the biggest stage, when the whole world was watching, Simon Adingra put on his best performance in the tournament. His standout performance helped the host nation secure the win against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Ola Aina still has nightmares about the young winger, who utterly terrorized the fullback repeatedly.
When his country needed inspiration, he provided the assist for Franck Kessie’s equalizer from a corner in the second half. His cross in the 80th minute found Sebastian Haller, who volleyed it home for the winner. Turning up on the grandest stage for his country! Simon Adingra picked up the Man of the Match award in the final and was deservedly awarded the Young Player of the Tournament award.
The young winger is blessed with blistering pace and often utilizes it to evade markers. He loves sprinting with the ball. Adingra often draws defenders and opposing players to himself, thereby creating space for his teammates to run into. He feeds on high lines. His anticipation and awareness off the ball are highly commendable, often ready to pounce on any loose ball or half chance. Always ready to capitalize on defensive errors and lapses in concentration by opposition players.
The winger can play across the front line, although he has an understandable preference for the left flank. He is capable of cutting in on either foot and unleashing powerful thunderbolts or wriggling away from defenders with his slender frame to create goal-scoring opportunities. Standing at 5 ft 9 In and having a slender body frame, he does not excel at winning aerial and ground duels.
The Ivorian winger presses relentlessly in the final third, winning the ball back or forcing opposition players into making mistakes. However, Simon Adingra needs to work on his defensive contributions as he often fails to track back. His decision-making can be erratic at times, but it’s understandable given his young age. With time, he’ll definitely get better.
His sacrifices and previous life experiences have turned him into the man he is today. They serve as encouragement to him whenever things get tough and help ensure he stays mentally focused.
Football has been a learning curve for Simon Adingra, and he constantly sets goals for himself. From Ivory Coast to Benin to Ghana to Denmark to Belgium and now England, his self-confidence and courage aid him in his quest to defy all odds to make his mark. Patience has been key to his success story.