Issa Doumbia has completed a permanent transfer from Serie B champions Venezia to Sporting Lisbon for a fee of €20 million, with a further €6 million in potential add-ons, according to reports from Italian sources. The deal includes €3 million in easily achievable bonuses and another €3 million contingent on Sporting Lisbon meeting specific performance-related objectives. Venezia will also retain a 10% sell-on clause for any future transfer of the player.
The midfielder joined Venezia at the start of the 2024/25 season and quickly became a key figure for the club, making a total of 63 appearances and contributing 10 goals and 6 assists. The majority of his goal contributions came during the 2025/26 season, where he played a pivotal role in Venezia’s Serie B title win. The club statement highlighted his consistent growth and significant contribution to their success.
Venezia released a statement thanking Doumbia for his commitment and professionalism during his time at the club, wishing him well in his future career. Doumbia himself described the move as the “most important step” of his career via social media. The 2003-born player had also attracted interest from Serie A side Juventus, but ultimately chose to continue his development in Portugal.
Doumbia’s departure represents a significant sale for Venezia, a newly promoted side in Serie A, allowing them to reinvest funds into strengthening their squad for the upcoming season. For Sporting Lisbon, the acquisition adds a dynamic midfielder to their ranks, providing further competition and depth in the centre of the park. Doumbia will be looking to establish himself as a regular starter for Sporting and contribute to their ambitions in both the Portuguese league and European competitions.
