Defender Cédric Kipré has left the club to join English Championship side Wigan Atheltic.
The 21-year-old Parisian joined ‘Well in the summer of 2017 from Leicester City and made an immediate impression, following a string of impressive performances.
The youngster, who also played for Paris Saint-Germain, became a fan favourite and broke into the Ivory Coast international side, playing for their Under 23s in a 5-0 win against Togo.
He finished his rookie season having featured 49 times in claret and amber, playing more domestic minutes than any player in Scotland last term. He added a further three appearances in the Betfred Cup this season.
Kipré joins the Latics for a significant fee, with the club also potentially earning more should the player excel at the DW Stadium. He has signed a three-year contract with the club.
“Although it’s with a heavy heart that we lose Cédric, his progress over the last year has been remarkable and it’s little wonder English Championship clubs have been circling,” ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said.
“He has the potential to go all the way to the top in my opinion and we very much wish him well in his future career. He will always be welcome back at Fir Park.
“We have been working on a potential replacement and hope to have something completed on that front as soon as possible.”
The 6ft 3in defender is not the first Motherwell player to head south for Wigan, with Lee McCulloch and Stevie McMillan following a similar path almost 20 years ago.
Kipré himself added: “I would like to thank everyone at Motherwell, especially the manager and the fans, for everything they have done for me.
“I loved it at the club and it was hard to leave, but this is a really big move for my family and I and we are excited by the challenge.
“Motherwell will always have a special place in my heart though and I will be cheering the team on wherever I am.”
Chief executive Alan Burrows said: “The model we have at the club is built and based around the development and trade of players, everyone gets that.
“That said, you always have mixed emotions at these times. Whilst you are happy for the player and share in the sense of pride at seeing someone develop and move up the ladder, it’s a wrench to see such a talented player leave for the last time.
“However, when the full balance of the fee is paid, it will go down as one of the most lucrative in Motherwell’s history, with the potential to be the most depending on how Cédric performs at Wigan.
“We believe that represents good business and we will be working with Stephen Robinson to try and find a replacement.”
Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Cédric for his contribution whilst at Fir Park and wish him every success in his future career.