Genoa have secured the services of Ivory Coast midfielder Hamed Junior Traore from Olympique Marseille on a loan deal. The agreement includes an option for the Italian club to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season for around €10 million.
The 26-year-old completed his medical tests this week before finalising the switch. Traore described his return to Italian football as a pleasure and thanked the club for the opportunity. He added that he hopes to justify the confidence shown in him by the coach, teammates and supporters.
Traore began his professional journey in the Empoli youth academy before establishing himself at Sassuolo. His performances ultimately earned him a move to Bournemouth in 2023 for a fee of €25.6 million. However, his time in English football was disrupted by injuries, limiting his opportunities to make a consistent impact.
Following his transfer to the English club, Traore spent time on loan at Napoli and Auxerre. He joined Marseille last term with an option to buy set at €7.7 million, though the French club opted not to trigger that clause. This paved the way for Genoa to negotiate the current arrangement, which offers them the possibility of securing his services permanently should the midfielder impress during his time with the club.
The Ivorian international brings top-flight experience from multiple European leagues, having previously featured in Italy with Empoli, Sassuolo and Napoli. His return represents an opportunity to rediscover the form that previously marked him as one of the division’s promising talents.
Genoa will hope that Traore can strengthen their midfield options as they navigate the demands of the campaign. The club has secured his services without an immediate obligation to buy, providing flexibility as they assess his contribution over the coming months.