Who is new Monaco signing Simon Adingra?
Simon Adingra completed a move to AS Monaco on transfer deadline day, but who is the Ivorian who arrives in Ligue 1 McDonald's from Sunderland?
A path well-trodden
Adingra's time in football began at the Right To Dream Academy in Ghana. From there, the pathway is clear. Danish side Nordsjaelland is a part of the Right to Dream network, where Djimi Traoré, now the manager of Monaco's Groupe Élite, recently managed.
But having moved to Denmark in 2020, he wouldn't stay there too long before coming onto the radar of Brighton, renowned for their talent identification and data-level approach. However, despite stating that he dreamed of playing Premier League football as a kid, he was not yet ready for it, and so he departed on loan and to Union Saint-Gilloise, part of the Tony Bloom network of clubs... and incidentally, the former club of Sébastien Pocognoli, who of course only joined the Principality club from the reigning Belgian champions earlier this season.
Adingra decisive in AFCON final
It was over the course of his loan spell at USG that he really burst onto the scene. In 51 appearances for the Belgian club, he registered 29 goal contributions (15 goals, 14 assists). That proved the springboard for him to achieve his dream and play in the Premier League.
The winger enjoyed two full seasons with the Seagulls, playing 73 games and scoring on 12 occasions. He passed other milestones, too, forming part of an Ivory Coast side that won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) back in 2024. And he wasn't a mere bystander. He was elected man-of-the-match in the final, a 2-1 win over Nigeria, after assisting both of the Ivory Coast's goals.
Simon Adingra is Red and White ❤️🤍
AS Monaco are delighted to announce the signing of Simon Adingra.
The 24-year-old Ivorian international winger joins on loan from Sunderland AFC until the end of the season, with an option to buy.
Welcome Simon! pic.twitter.com/acF9BC6ojU— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) February 2, 2026
That same season, also played a part in Brighton's Europa League campaign. During that European campaign with Brighton in the 2023/24 season, he faced Ligue 1 McDonald's opposition for the first time, drawing against Marseille at the Vélodrome (2-2), before then winning the return fixture (1-0).
However, he wouldn't remain at the AMEX Stadium. Sunderland have been building an ambitious project under the French binome of Régis Le Bris and Florent Ghisolfi. The former, a former Lorient manager, has helped guide the Black Cats to eighth place, in part thanks to the work done by former OGC Nice sporting director Ghisolfi in the transfer market.
Adingra reunites with Fati
The Abodo-born forward has played his part in that success, playing 14 times in the Premier League, scoring and assisting once. But he will now conclude the season at the Stade Louis II.
In the Principality, Adingra will reunite with a current Monégasque in the form of Ansu Fati, with whom he played at Brighton. And he will be looking to have a similar impact to the Spaniard and help guide Monaco back towards the European places in Ligue 1 McDonald's.
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