Thierno Ballo

Ballo playing for Austria U19 in 2019.
Personal information
Full name	Thierno Mamadou Lamarana Ballo[1]
Date of birth	(2002-01-02) 2 January 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Ivory Coast[2]
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Wolfsberger AC
Number	70
Youth career
0000–2012	SV Chemie Linz
2012	LASK
2013–2016	Bayer 04 Leverkusen
2016–2018	Viktoria Köln
2018–2021	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Chelsea	0	(0)
2021–2022	→ Rapid Wien (loan)	8	(0)
2022–	Wolfsberger AC	69	(22)
International career‡
2016	Austria U15	2	(1)
2016–2017	Austria U16	5	(2)
2016–2019	Austria U17	25	(6)
2018	Austria U18	1	(0)
2018–2019	Austria U19	12	(6)
2021–	Austria U21	9	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 03:16, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Thierno Mamadou Lamarana Ballo (born 2 January 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Austrian Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC. Born in the Ivory Coast, he is a youth international for Austria.

Born in Ivory Coast, Ballo moved to Guinea at the age of three before leaving for Austria four years later. Ballo joined Chelsea in January 2018, following stints with SV Chemie Linz, LASK, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and eventually, Viktoria Köln.^[3][4] During his debut under-18 campaign with the Blues, Ballo finished as top goalscorer for that respective age group and subsequently made his quick progression into the under-23 side over the next two years.^[5] He signed his first professional contract with Chelsea in January 2019.^[6]

On 31 August 2021, Ballo returned to Austria to join Rapid Wien on loan for the 2021–22 campaign.^[7] Just under a month later, he made his debut for the club featuring as second-half substitute during their Austrian Cup 2–1 victory over Admira Wacker.^[8] After only featuring thirteen times in all competitions come January 2022, Ballo's loan was terminated and the forward subsequently returned to Chelsea.^[9]

On 12 July 2022, Wolfsberger AC announced the signing of Ballo on a free transfer, after his release from Chelsea. Ballo signed a two-year contract with an option for a further year.^[10] On 23 July, he played his first game for the club in a 1–1 draw against SK Sturm Graz.^[11] On 28 August 2023, Ballo scored his first goal in his professional career in a league game against WSG Tirol, helping his team to a 3–1 victory, which is Wolfsberger's first league win of the season.^[12]

As of matches played 21 May 2024^[5]