Chelsea star at centre of court battle as former club claims striker was ‘stolen’ after controversial exit

CHELSEA star David Datro Fofana is at the centre of a court battle after a former club claimed the striker was “stolen” from them.

The ace, 21, joined Chelsea from Norwegian side Molde for £13million in January 2023.

He played just four times at Stamford Bridge before joining Union Berlin last summer.

But Fofana was recalled from the Germans this winter after two goals in 17 games.

And he is now on loan at Burnley, where he has four goals in eight matches.

Fofana is now hoping for another shot at glory with Chelsea when he returns to London this summer.

However, the three-time Ivory Coast international now finds himself at the heart of a court battle between Molde and his first club, Abidjan City.

According to The Telegraph, the Ivorians claim Fofana was “stolen” from them by Molde.

The Norwegians landed him on a free transfer in 2021, with Fofana netting 24 times in 65 outings before his Chelsea switch.

But Abidjan City claim the forward had a long-term deal with them and his transfer should therefore not have been free.

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As a result, they believe they are entitled to 20 per cent of Fofana’s £13m Blues fee from Molde, which amounts to £2.5m.

And they also want £1m which they claim to have missed out on after lining up a deal to sell him to French side Angers.

The Ivorian club have already had their case rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Fofana, Molde and Chelsea have also not commented on Abidjan City’s claims.

But club president Marc Ne is ready to take his side’s three-year battle to a higher body.

He said: “We just want justice. Without it, it means big clubs can come and take our players. This is dangerous for African football, not just for me.

“Many clubs would take him if he was free. He was in the national team, how could he be free? Everyone knows he was under contract.

“I even talked with Leicester. I spoke with Kolo Toure as he is my brother from the same academy. But everyone helped the move, even the federation.

“We think this is not justice. The player had a licence with us and only with us. He started with us when he was 14 and, when he was old enough, signed for five years in 2017.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk