Archival photos, chronic alopecia: the truth behind the controversy over the age of Malick Yalcouyé, the Ivorian midfielder at Brighton

Malick Yalcouyé has been at the centre of a controversy since Sunday 30 August.

Starting in his second Premier League match for Brighton, the Ivorian midfielder scored a goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But very quickly, the player’s performance took a back seat. Instead, it was the photos and images of Malick Yalcouyé, shared on social media, that captured people’s attention and sparked a heated controversy.

Many internet users have cast doubt on the official age of the Ivorian midfielder, who was born on 18 November 2005. They believe that his physical appearance did not match that of a 20-year-old. Mocking comments and accusations of “age fraud” have multiplied.

In response to the controversy, ASEC Mimosas, the club that developed the player in Ivory Coast, posted photos of Malick Yalcouyé on its social media accounts dating back to his early days at the academy in order to dispel the rumours.

For his part, the Ivorian Dobe Aboubacar provided further clarification, explaining that the player suffers from chronic alopecia, which would account for the hair loss that had sparked doubts about his appearance.