French defender Tanguy Kouassi is poised to return to Ligue 1 with Lille, according to reports from L’Équipe and confirmed by Le Petit Lillois. The 24-year-old is in advanced discussions with the northern French club, bringing an end to his four-season spell with Sevilla. Kouassi initially joined Sevilla in the summer of 2022 from Bayern Munich for a reported fee of €16 million.
Despite his potential, Kouassi’s time in Spain was hampered by recurring injuries, notably hamstring issues, limiting him to just 62 appearances across all competitions. Sevilla are reportedly willing to facilitate the termination of his contract, which is currently set to expire in 2027, allowing him to move to Lille. This suggests the Andalusian club do not see a path to regular first-team football for the player.
Kouassi began his professional career at Paris Saint-Germain, progressing through their youth academy before departing for Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2020. While at Bayern, he primarily featured for the reserve team, making a handful of appearances for the senior squad. His move to Sevilla was intended to provide him with more consistent playing time and a platform to develop into a top-tier centre-back.
Should the transfer to Lille be finalised, a medical examination will be a crucial step in confirming his fitness and ability to contribute to the team. Lille will be hoping Kouassi can rediscover the form that made him a promising talent at PSG and provide much-needed reinforcement to their defensive line. The move represents a chance for Kouassi to reignite his career in a familiar league and potentially earn a place in the French national team setup.
