Antwerp bolster defence by picking up Malian international from former Ligue 1 side | OneFootball

Antwerp have announced the signing of central defender Kiki Kouyate. The Malian international has joined the club from Montpellier, who were relegated from Ligue 1 last season. Antwerp have been in need of more defensive reinforcements and in Kouyate they have found an experienced player who should help at the back.

Kouyate has spent nearly all of his career so far in French football. The 28-year-old started in Morocco with Kawkab Marrakech before joining the Sporting CP set up in 2016. However, he never made an appearance for the first team and moved to Troyes in 2018. Kouyate spent two seasons with Troyes before being signed by Metz in 2020. Kouyate played 24 games for Metz, scoring twice. In the winter window of the 2022/2023 season he left to join Montpellier. After 49 games over the course of three seasons, Kouyate is leaving the club. However, he only played 11 games last season as the side were relegated from Ligue 1.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson