QPR sign striker Kone from Wycombe

Richard Kone scored 25 goals in 74 appearances for Wycombe Wanderers

Queens Park Rangers have signed striker Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers for an undisclosed fee.

The sought-after 22-year-old scored 21 goals in the 2024-25 season as the Chairboys finished fifth in League One and was named both the division's player and young player of the season.

No-one in the QPR squad reached double figures under Marti Cifuentes last season and their last player to reach 10 goals was Andre Gray in the 2021-22 campaign.

Last season's League One top scorer Charlie Kelman, with 27 goals in all competitions on loan at Leyton Orient, joined Charlton Athletic on a permanent transfer last month.

Kone, who represented Ivory Coast in the Homeless World Cup in 2019, scored 25 goals in 74 appearances for Wycombe after signing from non-league Athletic Newham in 2024.

The length of his contract at QPR was not disclosed.

"It's an amazing feeling, I'm really glad to join an amazing team, a great club. I can't wait to get started," Kone told the club's website.

"I made my mind when the opportunity comes, I'll be ready. I'll be ready to take it. By God's grace, it took the time that it took, four years, and when the time was right, I did take my chances and here I am."

Kone joins a QPR attack that includes fellow new signing Rumarn Burrell, last season's top scorer Michael Frey, and Slovenia international Zan Celar.

The Rs began the new Championship season with a 1-1 draw at home to Preston North End in Julien Stephan's first match in charge, and followed that with a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat by Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.

They visit Watford in the league on Saturday.

Only Charlie Kelman (21) and Jay Stansfield (19) scored more than Kone's 18 goals in League One last season

Kone's rise 'remarkable' - Analysis

BBC 3CR commentator Sam Avery:

For someone who was playing in step five of non-league football for Athletic Newham less than two years ago, Richard Kone's rise to one of the sought-after strikers in the EFL has been nothing short of remarkable.

His all-round game has improved immensely during his time at Wycombe. Kone has gone from a sharp finisher, to someone who can hold the ball up, link play, run in-behind and take players on too.

It's refreshing to watch someone who plays like he just loves his football and still has so much potential to develop further.

It didn't take him long to establish himself as a really important player for Wycombe and I fully expect him to continue flourishing in the Championship.