Official | Sikou Niakaté joins Braga from Guingamp | OneFootball

Braga have this afternoon announced the signing of French defender Sikou Niakaté from Guingamp, on a season-long loan deal with a permanent option at the end of the campaign.

The French youth international’s move will automatically become permanent should he play at least half of the Portuguese side’s games in the upcoming campaign. In that case, Niakaté would be signing a five-year deal.

The 22-year-old made 12 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, having been on loan at Metz. Le Grenats finished second to last in the top flight and were relegated, as Niakaté returned to his parent club in Brittany.

Guingamp were initially pushing for a permanent transfer, although Braga – who initally offered a loan deal – appear to have struck a compromise with the Ligue 2 club.

Niakaté came up through the youth academy at Valenciennes, and then went on to make 55 appearances in total for Guingamp before his loan move across the country. He now joins last year’s 4th-place finishers in the Portuguese top flight.