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Willy Boly

{{Short description|Ivorian footballer (born 1991)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Willy Boly

| image = Shahter-Braga (7).jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Boly with Braga in 2016

| full_name = Willy-Arnaud Zobo Boly{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3044867 |title=Updated squad lists for 2022/23 Premier League |publisher=Premier League |date=4 February 2023 |access-date=11 February 2023}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|3|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/16204/Willy-Boly/overview |title=Willy Boly: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=1 September 2019}}

| birth_place = Melun, France

| height = 1.95 m{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/teams/mens-first-team/willy-boly/|title=Willy Boly|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|access-date=31 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731112752/https://www.wolves.co.uk/teams/mens-first-team/willy-boly/|archive-date=31 July 2022}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Nottingham Forest

| clubnumber = 30

| youthyears1 = 2000–2002

| youthclubs1 = Rosny-sous-Bois

| youthyears2 = 2002–2006

| youthclubs2 = CFF Paris

| youthyears3 = 2004–2007

| youthclubs3 = Clairefontaine

| youthyears4 = 2007–2011

| youthclubs4 = Auxerre

| years1 = 2010–2014

| clubs1 = Auxerre B

| caps1 = 27

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2011–2014

| clubs2 = Auxerre

| caps2 = 97

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2014–2015

| clubs3 = Braga B

| caps3 = 16

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2015–2016

| clubs4 = Braga

| caps4 = 25

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2016–2018

| clubs5 = Porto

| caps5 = 10

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs6 = → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)

| caps6 = 36

| goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2018–2022

| clubs7 = Wolverhampton Wanderers

| caps7 = 89

| goals7 = 5

| years8 = 2022–

| clubs8 = Nottingham Forest

| caps8 = 37

| goals8 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2006

| nationalteam1 = France U16

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008

| nationalteam2 = France U17

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2010

| nationalteam4 = France U19

| nationalcaps4 = 1

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalyears5 = 2020–

| nationalteam5 = Ivory Coast

| nationalcaps5 = 22

| nationalgoals5 = 1

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|CIV}}}}

{{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{Medal|Competition|Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{Medal|W|2023 Ivory Coast|}}

| club-update = 17:00, 5 April 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 11 June 2024 (UTC)

}}

Willy-Arnaud Zobo Boly (born 3 February 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{English football updater|NottingF}} club Nottingham Forest. Born in France, he represents the Ivory Coast national team.

Club career

=Auxerre=

Born in Melun, Seine-et-Marne, Boly played youth football for three clubs, also having a three-year spell at the INF Clairefontaine academy.{{cite web|url=http://www.aja-mag.fr/dossier_boly-se-sent-pret.html|title=Willy Boly: "Je me sens prêt"|trans-title=Willy Boly: "I feel ready"|publisher=AJA Mag|language=fr|date=16 April 2011|access-date=24 April 2011}} He made his senior debut with AJ Auxerre's reserves and, in February 2011, he signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a three-year deal with an option for a fourth.{{cite web|url=http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/auxerre/article_500741_Auxerre-W.Boly-passe-pro.shtml|title=W. Boly passe pro|trans-title=W. Boly turns pro|publisher=Mercato 365|language=fr|date=19 February 2011|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=22 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222153020/http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/auxerre/article_500741_Auxerre-W.Boly-passe-pro.shtml|url-status=dead}}

On 16 April 2011, Boly made his Ligue 1 debut by playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against Toulouse.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.fr/football/ligue-1/2010-2011/toulouse-fc-aj-auxerre_mtc379013/live.shtml|title=Toulouse FC 0–1 AJ Auxerre|publisher=Eurosport|language=fr|date=16 April 2011|access-date=10 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lesviolets.com/actu/tfc-0-1-auxerre-un-hold-up-qui-fait-tres-mal,11243.html|title=TFC 0–1 Auxerre: Un hold-up qui fait très mal|trans-title=TFC 0–1 Auxerre: Quite harmful hold-up|publisher=Les Violets|language=fr|date=17 April 2011|access-date=10 March 2016|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107004621/http://www.lesviolets.com/actu/tfc-0-1-auxerre-un-hold-up-qui-fait-tres-mal,11243.html|url-status=dead}} He scored his first goal in the competition the following matchday, in a 1–1 home draw to Lens.{{cite web|url=http://www.rclensois.fr/match/auxerre-lens-score-final-1-1-a11706.html|title=Auxerre-Lens: Score final (1–1)|trans-title=Auxerre-Lens: Final score (1–1)|publisher=RC Lensois|language=fr|date=24 April 2011|access-date=10 March 2016}}

Boly was an undisputed starter in the 2011–12 season (33 games, one goal),{{cite news|url=http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/football/ligue-1/Homes-Clubs/auxerre/actualites/auxerre-s-ecroule-en-fin-de-match-534559|title=Auxerre s'écroule en fin de match|trans-title=Auxerre collapse towards the end of the match|newspaper=Le Figaro|language=fr|date=11 February 2012|access-date=10 March 2016}} but the AJA were relegated to Ligue 2 after finishing last.{{cite web|url=http://www.les-transferts.com/ligue-1/auxerre-boly-vers-la-roma.html|title=Auxerre: Boly vers la Roma?|trans-title=Auxerre: Boly to Roma?|publisher=Les Transferts|language=fr|date=22 April 2012|access-date=10 March 2016|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162902/https://www.les-transferts.com/ligue-1/auxerre-boly-vers-la-roma.html|url-status=dead}}

=Braga=

On 1 September 2014, Boly moved to Portugal and joined Braga on a four-year deal.{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Boly-a-braga/495468|title=Boly à Braga|trans-title=Boly to Braga|newspaper=L'Équipe|language=fr|date=1 September 2014|access-date=6 October 2014}} He spent his first season with the B-team, in the Segunda Liga.{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/sporting-braga/willy-boly/boly-sp-braga-estamos-a-caminhar-para-o-que-fonseca-quer|title=Boly (Sp. Braga): "Estamos a caminhar para o que Fonseca quer"|trans-title=Boly (Sp. Braga): "We are going in the direction of Fonseca's wishes"|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=9 September 2015|access-date=10 March 2016}}

=Porto=

On 31 August 2016, Boly signed a five-year contract with Porto with a €45 million buyout clause.{{cite news|url=http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/fc-porto/detalhe/oficial-willy-boly-e-reforco-dos-dragoes.html|title=Oficial: Willy Boly é reforço dos dragões|trans-title=Official: Willy Boly bolsters dragons|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=31 August 2016|access-date=8 July 2017}} He played only eight competitive matches during his spell,{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/porto/noticias/interior/boly-um-caso-de-sucesso-que-pode-ser-jackpot-de-verao-9010368.html|title=Boly: um caso de sucesso que pode ser jackpot de verão|trans-title=Boly: a case of success who might be a summer jackpot|newspaper=O Jogo|first=Carlos|last=Gouveia|language=pt|date=27 December 2017|access-date=7 June 2018}} including the 1–0 away loss against Juventus FC for the last-16 stage of the UEFA Champions League where he featured the second half after coming on as a substitute for André Silva.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/mar/14/juventus-porto-champions-league-live|title=Juventus 1–0 Porto (agg 3–0): Champions League last 16, second leg – as it happened|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Scott|last=Murray|date=14 March 2017|access-date=7 June 2018}}

=Wolverhampton Wanderers=

On 8 July 2017, Boly joined EFL Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan, reuniting him with his former head coach Nuno Espírito Santo.{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20170708-willy-boly/|title=Willy Boly!|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers|date=8 July 2017|access-date=8 July 2017}} He made his competitive debut for Wolverhampton on the opening day of the 2017–18 season in a 1–0 home win against Middlesbrough,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40760787|title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Middlesbrough|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 August 2017|access-date=31 October 2017}} and scored his first goal with them on 31 October to help Wolves win 2–0 away against Norwich City.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41730398|title=Norwich City 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 October 2017|access-date=31 October 2017}}

After making 37 official appearances and helping them achieve promotion, Boly signed a permanent contract with Wolves.{{cite web|url=https://talksport.com/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc-transfer-news-benik-afobe-and-willy-boly-join-premier-league-new|title=Benik Afobe and Willy Boly join Premier League new boys on permanent deals|publisher=Talksport|date=1 June 2018|access-date=1 June 2018}} He made his Premier League debut on 11 August 2018, in a 2–2 home draw against Everton.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45067374|title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Everton|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Shamoon|last=Hafez|date=11 August 2018|access-date=14 August 2018}} He scored his first goal in the competition two weeks later in a 1–1 home draw to Manchester City,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/25/wolves-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report|title=Manchester City rely on Aymeric Laporte to share spoils with Wolves|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Stuart|last=James|date=25 August 2018|access-date=28 August 2018}} but the goal proved controversial as television replays showed the ball was deflected into the goal by his forearm after glancing off his head.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wolves-vs-manchester-city-willy-boly-goal-reaction-premier-league-highlights-watch-video-a8508101.html|title=Pep Guardiola refuses to criticise referee after Willy Boly's handball in Manchester City draw|newspaper=The Independent|first=Jack|last=Watson|date=26 August 2018|access-date=28 August 2018}}

Boly scored his first ever goal in UEFA European competition in Wolves's 2019–20 UEFA Europa League Group Stage game against Beşiktaş in Istanbul on 3 October 2019, a game that Wolves won 1–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49874366|title=Beşiktaş 0–1 Wolverhampton: Willy Boly strikes late to give Wolves victory|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 October 2019|access-date=3 October 2019}}

Boly fractured his left fibula in training on 26 October 2019, necessitating surgery to insert a plate and screws on 30 October 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/10/30/wolves-defender-willy-boly-out-for-months-after-operation/|title=Wolves defender Willy Boly out for months after operation|newspaper=Express & Star|first=Joe|last=Edwards|date=30 October 2019|access-date=2 November 2019}} Boly returned from this injury in Wolves's 0–0 draw away to Manchester United on 1 February 2020,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51246502|title=Manchester United 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Simon|last=Stone|date=1 February 2020|access-date=9 February 2020}} although he had been an unused substitute in Wolves's previous Premier League fixture at home to Liverpool on 23 January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51130417|title=Wolves 1–2 Liverp-daool: Robert Firmino scores late winner for leaders|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Phil|last=McNulty|date=23 January 2020|access-date=9 February 2020}}

Boly scored his first goal of the 2020–21 season, and his first Premier League goal since the 2018–19 season, on 16 January 2021 against West Bromwich Albion in the Black Country derby.{{cite web |title=Wolves 2–3 West Brom: Matheus Pereira's double secures Baggies win in Black Country derby |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55598707|first=Simon|last=Stone|website=BBC Sport|date=16 January 2021}}

On 5 April 2021, after returning from playing with his national team in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifications, Wolves announced that Boly had caught COVID-19, and was self-isolating in line with government guidance.{{cite web |title=Trio to miss West Ham clash |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20210405-trio-to-miss-west-ham-clash/|website=Wolves|date=5 April 2021}} Wolves's head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, announced after Wolves's Premier League game with West Bromwich Albion on 3 May 2021 that Boly was suffering the effects of long covid, ruling him out from appearing for Wolves in the game that evening.{{cite web |title=Sam Allardyce on West Brom future; Willy Boly has long Covid, says Nuno Espirito Santo |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11699/12294393/sam-allardyce-on-west-brom-future-willy-boly-has-long-covid-says-nuno-espirito-santo|website=Sky Sports|date=3 May 2021|access-date=4 May 2021}} Boly would not feature for Wolves again until 19 May 2021, when he played the full 90 minutes of the away Premier League game at Everton.{{cite web |title=Everton 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Richarlison header keeps alive Toffees' European hopes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57082268|first=Gary|last=Rose|website=BBC Sport|date=19 May 2021}}

=Nottingham Forest=

On 1 September 2022, Boly signed with Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2022/september/01/reds-sign-defender-willy-boly/|title=Reds sign defender Willy Boly|website=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=1 September 2022|access-date=1 September 2022}} On 5 June 2024, the club said the player had signed a one-year extension.{{Cite web |last=Club |first=Nottingham Forest Football |date=2024-06-05 |title=Forest confirm retained list |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2024/june/05/forest-confirm-retained-list/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Nottingham Forest Football Club}}

International career

Born to Ivorian parents, Boly represented France at under-16, under-17 and under-19 levels.{{cite web|url=http://news.abidjan.net/h/461420.html|title=Football / Willy Boly (International Franco-ivoirien de l'AJ Auxerre en France) Tout sur ce défenseur central qui peut aider les Eléphants!|trans-title=Football / Willy Boly (French-Ivorian international of France's AJ Auxerre) Everything about this central defender who might help the Elephants!|publisher=News Abidjan|language=fr|date=6 June 2013|access-date=23 May 2018}}

Boly switched to represent the Ivory Coast national team in 2020. He debuted for the Ivory Coast in a 2–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification win over Madagascar on 12 November 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sofoot.com/haller-fait-souffler-la-cote-d-ivoire-pour-sa-premiere-491287.html|title=Haller fait souffler la Côte d'Ivoire pour sa première|website=SOFOOT.com}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 5 April 2025}}{{Soccerway|willy-boly/158635|access-date=11 May 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

!rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, Taça de Portugal, FA Cup}}

!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de la Ligue, Taça da Liga, EFL Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals
rowspan="6"|Auxerre

|2010–11

|rowspan="2"|Ligue 1

|8

10000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—81
2011–12

|33

12020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—371
2012–13

|rowspan="3"|Ligue 2

|25

10020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—271
2013–14

|30

04140colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—381
2014–15

|1

00020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—30
colspan="2"|Total

!97

361100colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—1134
rowspan="4"|Braga

|2014–15

|rowspan="3"|Primeira Liga

|0

0001000colspan="2"|—10
2015–16

|22

2401012Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League0colspan="2"|—392
2016–17

|3

00000001Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira040
colspan="2"|Total

!25

2402012010442
Porto

|2016–17

|Primeira Liga

|4

000201Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League0colspan="2"|—70
Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)

|2017–18{{Soccerbase season|58372|2017|access-date=27 July 2019}}

|Championship

|36

30010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—373
rowspan="5"|Wolverhampton Wanderers

|2018–19{{Soccerbase season|58372|2018|access-date=27 July 2019}}

|rowspan="4"|Premier League

|36

45000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—414
2019–20{{Soccerbase season|58372|2019|access-date=27 July 2019}}

|22

00000131colspan="2"|—351
2020–21{{Soccerbase season|58372|2020|access-date=30 March 2021}}

|21

11010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—231
2021–22{{Soccerbase season|58372|2021|access-date=22 September 2021}}

|10

00010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—110
colspan="2"|Wolves total

!125

86030131colspan="2"|—1479
rowspan="4"|Nottingham Forest

|2022–23{{Soccerbase season|58372|2022|access-date=16 September 2022}}

|rowspan="3"|Premier League

|11

00041colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—151
2023–24{{Soccerbase season|58372|2023|access-date=12 August 2023}}

|20

20010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—212
2024–25{{soccerbase season|58372|2024|access-date=12 August 2024}}

|6

02010colspan=2|—colspan=2|—90
colspan="2"|Total

!37

22061colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—453
colspan="3"|Career total

!288

151812312611035618

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

=International=

{{updated|match played 11 June 2024}}{{NFT player|id=80359|access-date=30 March 2021}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals

rowspan="5"|Ivory Coast

|2020

20
202181
202230
202320
202470
colspan="2"|Total221

:Scores and results list Ivory Coast's goal tally first. Score column indicates score after each Boly goal.

class=wikitable style="text-align: left;" align=center

|+ List of international goals scored by Willy Boly

! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

1.30 March 2021Stade National, Abidjan, Ivory Coast{{fb|ETH}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 3–12021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Braga

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • EFL Championship: 2017–18{{cite book|editor-first=John|editor-last=Anderson|title=Football Yearbook 2018–2019|year=2018|publisher=Headline Publishing Group|location=London|isbn=978-1-4722-6106-9|pages=386–387}}

Ivory Coast

  • Africa Cup of Nations: 2023{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Rob |date=11 February 2024 |title=Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68196261 |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}

Individual

  • PFA Team of the Year: 2017–18 Championship{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43808543|title=PFA Championship Team of the Year: Wolves & Fulham trios named in line-up|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 April 2018|access-date=5 May 2018}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/players/willyboly Profile] at the Nottingham Forest F.C. website
  • {{FFF player|7599-boly-willy}}
  • {{FFF male player|2308126429|archive=}}
  • {{LFP}}
  • {{Lequipe}}
  • {{ForaDeJogo}}
  • {{Soccerbase}}
  • {{UEFA player}}

{{Nottingham Forest F.C. squad}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Ivory Coast squads

| bg = #F77F00

| fg = white

| bordercolor = #009E60

| list =

{{Ivory Coast squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{Ivory Coast squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}

}}

{{2017–18 EFL Championship PFA Team of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boly, Willy}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Melun

Category:Black French sportspeople

Category:Ivorian men's footballers

Category:Ivory Coast men's international footballers

Category:French men's footballers

Category:France men's youth international footballers

Category:French sportspeople of Ivorian descent

Category:Men's association football central defenders

Category:Ligue 1 players

Category:Ligue 2 players

Category:AJ Auxerre players

Category:Primeira Liga players

Category:Liga Portugal 2 players

Category:S.C. Braga B players

Category:S.C. Braga players

Category:FC Porto players

Category:Premier League players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players

Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players

Category:Ivorian expatriate men's footballers

Category:French expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England

Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal

Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in England

Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Portugal

Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England

Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players

Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players

Category:Africa Cup of Nations–winning players

Category:21st-century French sportsmen