14.  BERTRAND TRAORE

In August 2010, it was reported that Traoré had joined the Chelsea Academy from French club Auxerre in August 2010, rejecting Manchester United in the process.

However, in January 2011, Traoré had still to sign for the club, and in January 2012 the club confirmed that Traoré was not and had never been a Chelsea player, but had appeared once for the club's youth team in a friendly as part of a six-week trial earlier in the season. However, on 17 July 2013 he made his debut, as a trialist, in a pre-season friendly against the Singha All Stars.

On 31 October 2013, Traoré officially signed a four-and-half year contract with Chelsea. He signed a contract for Chelsea's senior team in December 2013, and completed the transfer on the 1 January 2014.

On 22 June 2015, Traoré received a work permit and therefore clearance to play for Chelsea for the 2015/16 season onwards. He was given the number 14 shirt, previously worn by Andre Schurrle

On 2 January 2014, Traoré signed on loan for Eredivisie side, Vitesse. On 26 January 2014, he made his debut, coming on in the 67th minute for Chelsea's team mate, Lucas Piazon. On 29 March 2014, Traoré scored his first goal for Vitesse against Heerenveen. Traoré was substituted on replacing Mike Havenaar after half time; in the 67th minute scored Vitesse's second goal of the game which was assisted by fellow Chelsea loanee, Christian Atsu. On 6 April 2014, Traoré scored his second goal of the season in a home match against Ajax which ended in a 1–1 draw. On 12 April 2014, Traoré put Vitesse in the lead for the first time in the match against Cambuur, although Vitesse lost the game 4–3 in the end.

On 7 July 2014, it was confirmed that Traoré would stay at Vitesse on loan for the 2014-15 season. On 10 August 2014, Traoré started the first game of the season against Ajax that ended in a 4 –1 defeat for Vitesse. Traoré scored his first goal on the season in a 4–1 victory over Willem II on 18 October 2014

While Traoré primarily played on the right wing during his first loan to Vitesse, around December, Traoré made the switch from the right to being the lone striker up top leading up to him scoring on 14 December in a 1–1 draw against FC Groningen. In the following games, Traoré scored his first brace in a 4–0 win over Ajax in the KNVB Cup, then three days later scored his first league brace in a 3–0 win over Heracles.

Traoré participated at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup and 2011 African U-17 Championship, and helped Burkina Faso beat Rwanda 2–1 in the continental final.

At the age of 15, Traoré made his debut for the senior national team on 3 September 2011, in a friendly match against Equatorial Guinea. He made his first appearance at an Africa Cup of Nations finals in the 2012 edition, becoming one of the youngest players to do so. He came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Narcisse Yaméogo in the 2–1 loss to Sudan in their final group stage match as the nation was eliminated.

Traoré scored his first goal for the main side on 14 August 2013, the first of a 2–1 away win over Morocco. At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, he played all three of the team's games in another group stage exit, starting the first two.