[3] Growing up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast,[4] Traoré began his career with Jean-Marc Guillou's football school ASEC Mimosas, before joining Stade d'Abidjan in 2006.

[6] Traoré made his European debut with CFR, scoring a second goal in the first match of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League group stage, against Copenhagen.

Traoré received his first red card of his career after a brutal foul in the second half as CFR lost 3–0 against Sportul Studențesc on 20 August 2010.

[7] In February 2011, Traoré was transferred to Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League for a reported fee of €6 million.

[8] In the opening game of the season on 13 March 2011, Traoré made his debut, coming on as a substitute, in a 2–0 loss against Rubin Kazan.

[9] Traoré then scored his first brace in Russian Football and set up a goal for Gheorghe Bucur in a 3–2 win over Amkar Perm.

[19] In Anzhi's first European campaign in nine years, the club played its first match in the qualification round against AZ and scored in a 1–0.

[22] However, the announcement was marred with restructuring at business level, which lead Anzhi chose to transfer list their whole squad, including recent signing Traoré.

[30] Instead, Traoré joined Everton on loan on 24 January 2014 until the end of the 2013–14 Premier League season[31] after his work permit was granted[32] and given the number 28 shirt.

[36] After a disastrous spell at Everton, Traoré was given a chance in the first team by new manager Leonardo Jardim after being recalled ahead of the new season.

"[39] Following his recovery, Traoré made his Monaco debut, where he came on as a substitute for Anthony Martial in the 64th minute, in a 2–0 win over Evian on 17 October 2014.

[41] On 3 January 2016, when Monaco hosted seventh-tier Saint-Jean Beaulieu in the last 64 of the Coupe de France, Traoré scored four goals in an eventual 10–2 victory, despite being sent off at half time.

Two of them were also footballers: Messa, who had a spell in Romania at Politehnica Timișoara, and Lajo Ménéné, who started his European career at CFR Cluj, being brought there by Lacina.