One of Canada's top midfielders has found a permanent home in Italy.
Serie A club Sassuolo activated the buy option clause on Ismael Kone's loan deal from Marseille, officially purchasing the Canadian for a fee of 13 million euros, insider Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday.
Kone was initially loaned to Sassuolo in late July, with an option to buy included in the transaction.
Since heading to the Serie A, Kone has found his form, scoring four goals in 20 appearances and starting the majority of the club's league matches.
The 23-year-old joined Marseille last year from English club Watford but struggled to settle in, playing just nine games for the side before being loaned to Stade Rennais F.C. for the remainder of the Ligue 1 season.
A native of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Kone has become a mainstay in the Canadian men's national team, earning 37 caps and scoring four goals.
He began his professional career with CF Montreal in 2021, appearing in 26 games with two goals before making the move across the pond to Watford.
