Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou (born 5 August 1985) is an
Ivorian footballer who plays as a
striker for
Chelsea in the
Premier League.He is often used on the wings at Chelsea. He has a preference for playing on the left wing as this gives him opportunities to cut inside and take shots with his favoured right foot.
Club career
Ivory Coast and Netherlands
Born in
Oumé,
Côte d'Ivoire, like his older brother
Bonaventure, Kalou began his career in local club
Mimosas before plying his trade in Europe.
Auxerre coach
Guy Roux wanted to sign him to unite him with his brother, former Feyenoord player,
Bonaventure Kalou. However, Kalou signed for
Feyenoord Rotterdam in 2003. In 2004 he was loaned to Feyenoord's "satellite club"
Excelsior Rotterdam.
Then he returned to Feyenoord and played in the Dutch top flight for two seasons from 2004 to 2006. During his time at Feyenoord, Salomon scored 35 goals in 67 league appearances for the Rotterdam club, and also won an individual award when he won the
Johan Cruijff Award in 2005 for being the most promising young talent of that season.
Chelsea
2006–07 season
Kalou moved to
Chelsea on 30 May 2006, for an undisclosed fee, believed to be approximately £9,000,000. Under contract with Chelsea until 2009, Kalou was handed the number 21 jersey.
Former Chelsea manager
José Mourinho praised the young Ivorian as being hardworking, versatile, eager to improve, and unafraid of the physical side...
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