Former Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboué has broken his silence on a deeply personal matter, expressing grief over being kept in the dark as his son, Mathis Eboué, completed a transfer to Chelsea FC. The ex-Ivory Coast international confirmed he was neither informed of the move nor contacted by the boy’s mother, a development he described as profoundly painful.
“I feel very sad because when he [Mathis Eboué] signed for Chelsea I wasn’t there. The mom didn’t call me. I’ve not had contact with him for almost five years. I want to be closer to my son to help him,” Eboué said. The former defender elaborated on the emotional toll the situation has taken: “These things, when I’m talking about that, it is paining me a lot because he is my son. When I was with him, I taught him how to play football. I’m very happy for him, but inside my body, I’m crying because I want to be closer to my son to help him.”
Eboué also disclosed that communication with his children has broken down almost entirely. “Up till now, I don’t have any recent picture (of my kids). When I ask some new pictures from the mom, she refused to give it to me… They read my message, but they don’t answer,” he added.
The backdrop to these revelations is a turbulent chapter in Eboué’s personal life that began with his divorce from his Belgian ex-wife. The separation resulted in significant financial losses, including properties, and led to him losing custody of his children. According to reports, Eboué had entrusted much of his finances to others without fully comprehending the legal arrangements involved, leaving him in a severely vulnerable position.
Eboué, who made over 200 appearances across stints at Arsenal, Galatasaray, and Sunderland during his professional career, had previously spoken publicly about being brought to the brink during that period. He has since managed to rebuild elements of his life, relocating to Africa where he remarried and established a football academy aimed at nurturing young talent on the continent.
Despite that recovery, the estrangement from his children continues to cast a long shadow. Mathis Eboué’s signing with Chelsea — one of European football’s most high-profile academies — would ordinarily represent a milestone to celebrate for any parent with a footballing background. Instead, for Emmanuel Eboué, the moment has served as a stark reminder of the personal fracture he has yet to repair.
Chelsea FC have been active in recruiting promising young talent through their academy structure, and Mathis Eboué’s arrival fits within that broader recruitment strategy. However, no official confirmation of the signing details has been issued by the club at the time of publication.
Eboué represented Ivory Coast at international level, earning over 70 caps, and was part of a generation of African footballers who rose to prominence in the English Premier League during the mid-2000s. His candid remarks highlight not only a personal struggle but also broader issues around parental access and family breakdown that extend well beyond the world of football.
