Quick Facts
Biography
Devann Grey Joseph Yao (born April 5, 1990) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for SV Meppen.
Club Career
Born in New York to an Ivorian father and Italian mother, Yao moved to Europe at a young age. He first joined FC Metz in France at age of 13. He spent 4 years in their youth system before joining AS Livorno in Italy, where he played for their youth and reserve teams. Yao then signed with St. Mirren of the Scottish Championship but left due to lack of playing time with the first team.
Yao briefly returned to the United States to trial with the New York Red Bulls but failed to secure a contract, returning to the United Kingdom to sign with Ipswich Town. However, he was released from Ipswich Town in 2010 without playing any match with the first team.
In 2011, Yao went to Borinage in the Belgian Second Division. In 2013, he signed with UR La Louvière Centre. In 2014, after three years in Belgium, Yao headed to Germany, where he joined TSG Neustrelitz in the German Fourth Tier. After scoring eight goals in 23 matches for Berliner AK 07 in the 2016-2017 season, he signed with SV Meppen in the German 3. Liga.