The son of Premier League legend Kolo Toure has taken a significant step in his own football career by signing for National League side Altrincham. Yassine Toure, aged 19, is a right-sided attacker looking to follow in the footsteps of his famous father.
A Footballing Pedigree and Early Career
Yassine Toure arrives at Altrincham after most recently being on the books at Wrexham, where he featured for their youth and Reserve teams. His footballing education began in the prestigious academies of Celtic and Leicester City, giving him a solid foundation in the game. Despite this pedigree, he is yet to make a senior competitive appearance, a gap Altrincham aims to help him bridge.
Manager's Assessment and Immediate Plans
Altrincham manager Neil Gibson has outlined a clear development plan for the young talent. He praised Yassine's raw attributes, stating he possesses 'a huge amount of physical prowess' and is 'very strong and pacey' in one-on-one situations. However, Gibson was clear that the player must adapt to the demands of men's football.
The immediate plan is for Yassine to gain experience via a loan move to a club in the Northern Premier League West. Gibson explained the strategy is to use a loan or dual registration to give him crucial game time before integrating him into the Altrincham first-team setup over the next six to twelve months.
Following a Legendary Father's Path
The move brings Yassine geographically close to his father, Kolo, who is now assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Kolo Toure enjoyed a glittering playing career, winning Premier League titles with both Arsenal and Manchester City, and a Scottish Premiership with Celtic before retiring in 2017.
While the famous surname brings expectation, the focus at Altrincham is on moulding Yassine's potential into consistent performance. The club believes his fantastic attitude in training and clear physical gifts provide an excellent platform for growth as he embarks on his own journey in the game.
