Issa Kabore: Bundesliga club 'agree' deal to sign Man City defender after nightmare loan

The 23-year-old is yet to make a single senior appearance for Pep Guardiola's side since joining the club in 2020 and has instead spent time on loan at five different clubs.

Kabore experienced temporary spells with French trio Mechelen, Troyes and Marseille before making 24 Premier League appearances on loan at Luton Town last season.

Following the Hatters' relegation from the English top flight, Kabore joined Portuguese giants Benfica on a season-long loan deal last summer and had hopes of establishing himself as a first-team regular.

"When you arrive at a big club like Benfica, the goals are clear. There's a clear vision," Kabore told reporters shortly after his arrival.

"We're here to win trophies and that's what we're going to strive for. They're clubs [during previous loans] that have added a lot, that have made me grow as a player and as a man. I come here with that experience, with everything I learned from them."

Kabore set for Werder Bremen loan after frustrating Benfica spell

However, Kabore has been left frustrated by his lack of senior football at Benfica, with the attack-minded right-back being limited to just two starts and five substitute appearances across all competitions.

The Burkina Faso international has only played for eight minutes across three substitute outings in the Primeira Liga, while his only two starts were against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League and lower-league Portuguese side Pevidem in the Taca de Portugal.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Man City and Benfica have now reached an agreement to cut Kabore's loan deal short, and Bundesliga club Werder Bremen have been given the green light to sign the defender on a temporary deal for the remainder of this season.

Kabore is likely to undergo a medical before finalising his switch to the German side, where he will hope to feature regularly as a wing-back in Ole Werner's 3-5-2 system, battling with Mitchell Weiser and Felix Agu for starts.

Werder Bremen currently sit seventh in the Bundesliga table, just two points behind Eintracht Frankfurt in third spot, and they celebrated victory in each of their last four matches in all competitions prior to the German winter break.

It remains to be seen what the future will hold for Kabore once his loan deal at Werder Bremen expires at the end of this season; his contract at Man City expires in June 2027.

Written by

Oliver Thomas