Lille have announced the signing of defender Tanguy Kouassi on a two-year contract with an option for a further season, the club confirmed on Saturday. Kouassi joins as a free agent after mutually terminating his contract with Spanish side Sevilla FC, marking a return to Ligue 1 for the 24-year-old.
The Franco-Ivorian centre-back’s move to the north of France addresses a clear need in Lille’s squad following the departures of Chancel Mbemba and Aïssa Mandi on free transfers at the end of June. Kouassi becomes the third summer arrival for Lille, following the signings of winger Önel Basar from NEC Nijmegen and Swiss right-back Loun Srdanovic from Servette Geneva, both of whom featured in Lille's 3-0 friendly win over La Louvière this weekend.
Kouassi’s career has seen him move between some of Europe’s biggest clubs, beginning with Paris Saint-Germain before a move to Bayern Munich in 2020. He spent two years in Germany, although his playing time was limited, making 23 appearances across all competitions. A transfer to Sevilla followed in 2022, but his time in Andalusia was hampered by injuries, including issues with his hip and hamstring.
During his four seasons with Sevilla, Kouassi made just 62 appearances, struggling to establish himself as a regular starter. He also represented France at under-21 level, earning three caps and scoring twice. Despite the recent injury setbacks, Lille will be hoping Kouassi can rediscover the form that once saw him touted as a promising young talent, providing much-needed stability to their defensive line. This signing offers Lille a relatively low-risk, high-reward option to bolster their backline ahead of the new Ligue 1 season and potentially compete in European competitions.
