Manchester United Loanee Sekou Kone Misses Out on UEFA Conference League Squad
In a significant setback for his development, Manchester United talent Sekou Kone has been excluded from FC Lausanne-Sport's UEFA Conference League squad. The 20-year-old defensive midfielder joined the Ineos-owned Swiss club on loan until the end of the season, but will now miss European competition opportunities.
Loan Move Fails to Secure European Spot
Kone trained with Lausanne throughout the winter transfer period before completing his temporary switch, with Manchester United noting the arrangement would provide "potential involvement in the UEFA Conference League." However, the Swiss side opted against including him in their squad for the remainder of the European campaign.
FC Lausanne-Sport were permitted to register a maximum of three new players following the winter window, yet Kone was not among those selected. This omission means he will be absent when Lausanne meets SK Sigma Olomouc in the play-off round, limiting his competitive exposure.
Contrasting Fortunes for United Loanees
Interestingly, Enzo Kana-Biyik, another Manchester United loanee at Lausanne, has been named in the Conference League squad. Kana-Biyik joined United on a free transfer from French side Le Havre during the summer window before immediately linking up with Lausanne on a season-long loan.
Kone's situation contrasts sharply with the initial enthusiasm shown by Lausanne when they unveiled his acquisition. The club stated: "Having arrived at the Stade de la Tuilière in early January to train with Lausanne's first team, Sekou Kone quickly impressed the Lausanne staff. His ball-winning abilities, stamina, and technical skill led the club to sign the defensive midfielder on loan until the end of the season."
Injury History and Limited Opportunities
The Mali youth international has faced challenges in recent months, having sustained a fractured eye socket while playing for Manchester United's Under-21s against Tamworth in August. This injury sidelined him for several months, with Kone only resuming play for the academy in November.
Despite being included in three Premier League matchday squads last season by then-manager Ruben Amorim—against Tottenham, Everton, and Nottingham Forest—Kone never made his first-team debut for United. He subsequently traveled to the USA for pre-season but didn't feature in any matches, and remains without a senior appearance for the club.
Recent Performances at Lausanne
Since joining Lausanne, Kone has seen limited action. Following his departure from United in the winter window, he was an unused substitute against FC St. Gallen before making his bow with a 10-minute appearance in the subsequent match against FC Thun. Last weekend, he was once more an unused substitute as Lausanne drew 3-3 with Servette FC.
This exclusion from European competition represents a damning blow for the young midfielder, who now faces reduced opportunities to showcase his abilities on a continental stage during what was meant to be a crucial developmental loan spell.
