Ibrahima Sonko (born 22 January 1981) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a centre back. Sonko moved to France from Senegal at a young age and began his career with Olympique Noisy-le-Sec and AS Saint-Étienne, before turning professional with Grenoble. In 2002 Sonko moved to English side Brentford where he spent two seasons before moving to Reading in 2004. Sonko spent four seasons with the Royals and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League in 2005–06. Following their relegation, Sonko joined Stoke City for a fee of £2 million in August 2008. However, he failed to establish himself in the first team at Stoke and spent time out on loan at Hull City and Portsmouth before being released. He spent the 2011–12 season with Ipswich Town and then played for Turkish side Akhisar Belediyespor from 2012 until 2015. Club career Brentford Sonko was born in Bignona, Senegal but moved to France when he was young. He played with Olympique Noisy-le-Sec and was in the youth team at AS Saint-Étienne before he joined Grenoble in 1999. Sonko helped Grenoble gain promotion from the Championnat National in 2000–01 and in 2002 he left to join English side Brentford. He played 45 times for Brentford in 2002–03, scoring six goals at the Bees finished in 16th position. He played 46 times in 2003–04 as Brentford again finished in a mid-table position this time 17th. His performances for Brentford attracted interest from high placed sides. Reading Sonko joined Reading on a bosman in the summer of 2004. He made 42 appearances in 2004–05 as Reading finished in 7th place missing out on a play-off place by three points. In 2005–06 Sonko was ever-present as the Royals gained promotion to the Premier League in emphatic fashion after winning the league with a record 106 points. During the season, he won the player of the month award for October and was also named in the PFA Team of the Year. Sonko's first season in the Premier League was eventful. He received a straight red card against Aston Villa for tripping Luke Moore in the penalty area, meaning Reading lost 2–1. He was the subject of further controversy in a match against Chelsea on 14 October 2006, when his challenge left goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini unconscious. Cudicini was carried off the field wearing a neck brace. Sonko stated that he was scared after receiving