Souleymane Coulibaly, the former Tottenham Hotspur youth striker and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot winner (9 goals in 4 games for the Ivory Coast), recently revealed in an interview that he turned down a transfer offer from Italy (as well as one from Iran) to remain with his current club, Pickering Town, in England’s ninth-tier Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
In a detailed January 2026 interview with The Athletic, Coulibaly explained his decision: he wants to enjoy football again, help his team push for promotion, and finish his career peacefully in a low-pressure environment. He stated he no longer needs to prove himself at higher levels and has committed to staying with Pickering Town until the end of the season, despite interest from abroad.
Coulibaly, now 31, has had a nomadic career across Italy (early days with Siena, Grosseto, Bari), England, Scotland (Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle), Egypt (Al Ahly), and Tunisia, marked by early promise but also disputes and setbacks.
He joined Pickering Town in November 2024 and has been performing well, sharing the league’s top scorer spot with around 20 goals.
This news surfaced in early January 2026 reports, including the Polish outlet Meczyki.pl and English sources that referenced the interview. Coulibaly holds dual Ivorian-Italian citizenship, acquired during his time living in Italy as a teenager.
