Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jonathan Kodjia | ||
Date of birth | 22 October 1989 | ||
Place of birth | Saint-Denis, France | ||
Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
|
Aston Villa | ||
Number | 26 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2014 | Reims | 9 | (0) |
2012 | → Cherbourg (loan) | 16 | (3) |
2012–2013 | → Amiens (loan) | 32 | (9) |
2013–2014 | → Caen (loan) | 27 | (5) |
2013–2014 | → Caen B (loan) | 2 | (0) |
2014–2015 | Angers | 28 | (15) |
2015–2016 | Bristol City | 49 | (19) |
2016– | Aston Villa | 33 | (19) |
National team‡ | |||
2016– | Ivory Coast | 10 | (5) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:53, 1 April 2017 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:53, 24 March 2017 (UTC) |
Jonathan Kodjia (born 22 October 1989) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Aston Villa. Kodjia represents the Ivory Coast at international level.
Kodjia joined Bristol City on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year on 20 July 2015. He scored his first competitive goal for Bristol City on 15 August 2015 in a 4–2 defeat to Brentford, converting a pass from Luke Ayling to give City a 1–0 lead.
On 30 August 2016, Kodjia signed with Aston Villa on a four-year contract for an initial fee of £11 million, that could potentially rise to £15 million. He scored his first league goal for the club, on his debut, against Brentford. Kodjia's next goal came in a 1–1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers from the spot after Jack Grealish was fouled in Steve Bruce's first game as Aston Villa manager. He then scored the opener in a 2–1 win away at Reading just 3 days later. His late acrobatic goal against Fulham on 22 October won the game 1–0 for Villa, making it 3 goals in 3 games and back to back wins for the club. Kodjia started November in top form bagging 2 goals against a struggling Blackburn Rovers on side on Bonfire night to help Villa come from 1–0 down to win the game 2–1. His 7th goal of the season then came later in the month with a fine header in a 3–1 win over Cardiff City at Villa Park. Kodjia scored 6 goals in Steve Bruce's first 7 games in charge and his form helped propel Villa from the relegation zone up to 11th within Bruce's first month at the club. Kodjia's performances won him the PFA Championship player of the month for November.
Kodjia was born in France to Ivorian parents. He was contacted first by the Benin Football Association as his surname has origins in that country but was not eligible. He was later called up by the Ivory Coast national football team and made his debut in a friendly 0–0 tie with Hungary in May 2016. He scored his first international goal against Gabon on 4 June 2016, volleying home to score the first goal of the game. Ivory Coast would go on to win 2–1.