According to a report by The Cable on Friday, April 24, 2026, former Arsenal and Ivory Coast international Emmanuel Eboué has revealed the emotional and financial toll of his divorce, saying he has not seen or spoken to his three children in years and continues to struggle with the consequences of his personal breakdown.
Speaking on The Fifth House Podcast, the 42-year-old former right-back said he remains completely cut off from his children Clara, Maeva, and Mathis following his separation from his ex-wife, Aurélie Bertrand.
“Yes, it’s my prayer every day. I pray for my kids… God, please, one day I want to see my kids,” Eboué said, describing the situation as a source of ongoing emotional pain.
He explained that despite opportunities to travel, he has chosen to remain in his home country, hoping that one day he will be able to reconnect with his children. According to him, he continues to hold on to memories and old photographs, as he no longer has recent contact or updated pictures of them.
“The ones I have are old, when they were kids,” he said, adding that attempts to reach them on special occasions have gone unanswered.
Eboué recounted a recent incident in which he tried to call one of his daughters on her birthday but received no response. “I send them messages… they read, but they don’t answer,” he said. “I called, it was ringing, she didn’t answer. I sent a message, she read, but didn’t reply.”
The former defender also expressed sadness over missing key moments in his son Mathis’ life, including his football development. Mathis recently signed professional terms with Chelsea FC in February.
“I feel very sad because when he signed for Chelsea I wasn’t there,” he said. “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 emotional distance has been particularly difficult given his own background in football and the role he once played in helping his son develop the game.
“When I talk about this, it pains me a lot because he is my son,” he said. “I taught him how to play football. I’m very happy for him, but inside I’m crying because I want to be close to him.”
Eboué and Bertrand were married in 2004, but their relationship ended in a widely reported and contentious divorce finalised in 2017. Following the court ruling, a significant portion of Eboué’s assets—including properties and vehicles in England—were awarded to his former wife, along with custody of the children.
The former footballer also spoke about the financial impact of the separation, saying he lost most of his assets built during his playing career.
“I lost so much. I don’t want to say exactly how much, but it was a lot,” he said. “I lost everything I had in England—houses, cars, everything.”
Eboué is currently married to Stephanie Boedé, whom he later wed in 2019….See More
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