Defensive talent explains SGE farewell
©Juanje Filmmaker
While the rainy and cold autumn weather has arrived in Frankfurt, Tamiou Kpebane (19) is sweating under the sun in summer temperatures in the Ciudad Deportiva José Ramón Cisneros Palacios on the outskirts of Seville. After eight years in Eintracht’s youth ranks, the versatile defensive talent took the early step abroad – a very conscious decision. The goal is to make the jump to the professional level at Sevilla FC; he already has a corresponding contract in his pocket.
“I’m very happy to be here. The team gave me a great reception, I was warmly welcomed from day one. All the people in Sevilla are very open and I have my own talent manager at my side who takes care of everything. That makes it easy for me to concentrate fully on football,” said Kpebane in an interview with Transfermarkt, summing up the first few weeks at the Blanquirrojos, where he is initially scheduled for the third-class reserves. “At first I lived on campus so that I could arrive in peace and familiarize myself with everything. I now live in a nice apartment outside of campus, which gives me a little more independence. In terms of sport, I notice after a short time that I’m getting better every day here.”
In 2017, Kpebane moved from SG Bruchköbel to Eintracht Frankfurt’s U12 team. For years the dream of a professional debut in the SGE jersey lived. In 2024, Kpebane triumphed with the A-Juniors in the Hessen Cup; last season he contributed seven goals and five assists in 23 U19 appearances. And even though it was difficult, it was clear to Kpebane that his path would end at Eintracht.
Staying at Eintracht Frankfurt was not an option for Kpebane
“Emotionally, it wasn’t easy because I felt very comfortable in Frankfurt and it’s my home. I’m very grateful to Eintracht for the many years of training, the support and for the fact that the club prepared me for this step. But from a sporting point of view, it was clear: it was time to take the next step – at the latest after the U23 was relegated to the upper league. I really wanted to play at the professional level in the men’s division. I have this chance in Seville: I’m playing in the third division here “Spain’s valuable experience in men’s football is exactly the right step for my development,” says Kpebane.
In Frankfurt, however, the prospects didn’t look so rosy for him. The past successful years, including the Europa League title in 2022 and two Champions League participation, make it more difficult for our own offspring. The SGE has four homegrown players in its 28-man Bundesliga squad. In addition to veteran Timothy Chandler (35), the young professionals Elias Baum (20), Noah Fenyö (19) and Amil Siljevic (18) have not yet played this season.
“Eintracht has done a great job in recent years, establishing itself in Europe and developing a very good reputation internationally. This of course also means that the competition in the squad is becoming ever greater – which is completely normal for a club that plays at this level. For me, it was simply time to look for a new challenge where I can play regularly at professional level and develop further,” explains Kpebane with a little sadness. “In Seville I found exactly this opportunity. I’m also much closer to the professional squad here and was recently even able to take part in training and a test match. That gives me a very good feeling and shows me that the club has trust in me and is actively supporting my path.”
FC Sevilla convinces Kpebane with permeability and development plan
Spain was not the only option; in addition to Crystal Palace, Hamburger SV was also linked with the defensive talent. “My advisor Fritz Voltmer had a lot of discussions at an early stage – both with clubs at home and abroad. It was important to find a solution that fit in terms of sport, humanity and perspective. Sevilla FC worked most intensively on me right from the start. The club has a clear plan for young players and relies heavily on individual development. When everything fell into place, it was clear to me: This was the right step,” reveals Kpebane, who is one of only three new signings at Sevilla Atlético is. The heavily indebted Andalusians are also by far the bottom when it comes to LaLiga salary caps.
It was only at the end of the transfer phase that the sale of Loïc Badé (25) to Bayer Leverkusen gave Sevilla FC some breathing room. “The club has shown me a very convincing plan: I should first get used to Spanish football through the second team, which is technically, tactically and the pace of play different than in Germany. My physical profile is very much in demand here and the club is convinced that I will fit perfectly into the structure with my athleticism and style of play. I will be introduced to the first team step by step – with targeted training sessions and individual support,” says Kpebane, who has a professional contract with the Nervionenses until the end of August 2028 signed.
He is less bothered by the fact that Sevilla has lost its status as the top club in Spain, not least due to financial problems. In fact, that is exactly what influenced his decision in favor of the Blanquirrojos. “Sevilla FC has proven in recent years that this path works: Time and again, players from their own youth manage to make the leap to the professionals. In the first team games, there are sometimes up to twelve players from their own academy in the squad. This permeability and the clear development plan were crucial for me. I feel great trust here and am convinced that Sevilla is exactly the right place to take the next step in my career,” said Kpebane. “For me, Sevilla is still an absolute top club – with an incredible history, passionate fans and a clear sporting vision.”
Kpebane wants to establish himself as a modern full-back in Sevilla
At first, everyday life for Kpebane is called Primera Federación. After joining the team late and missing pre-season training, the defensive talent has played five games so far. In his first and only start, he provided an assist. “We train under absolutely professional conditions and there are thousands of spectators at the games – most recently there were almost 10,000 fans in the stadium for the derby against Betis Sevilla. That motivates me enormously and shows what a big stage this club offers,” said Kpebane, who was in international demand primarily because of his versatility.
At 1.95 meters tall, Kpebane is actually predestined for the center of defense, but recently he mostly played in the wing positions – and sometimes even offensively. “I see myself as a modern full-back. Last season I showed that I can not only be stable defensively, but also make an impact offensively – through dribbling, advances, goals and assists. Just because I’m tall doesn’t mean I have to limit myself to central defense. My size combined with speed and wit is something special in Spanish football and sets me apart from many players,” assesses Kpebane.
In addition to the temperatures and the new environment, Kpebane also has to adapt to a new language. He is the only one in the reserve squad who doesn’t speak Spanish. “Hardly anyone here speaks English fluently, so it was immediately clear to me that I had to learn Spanish. I got a private teacher straight away and am making rapid progress,” says Kpebane, who is more than happy with the move to Seville so far. “The openness of the people here and the support of those around me made me feel comfortable right from the start – and that helps enormously.”
And what is the concrete plan for the future? “In short: I must first convince at the professional level in the second team – with consistency, performance and personality. Then I should be gradually brought up to the level of the first team through targeted training measures. The club places great value on individual development and works very closely with us young players. I know that it will not be an easy path, but I feel that all doors are open to me. My goal is to assert myself here – and one day play in the Sevilla FC jersey in LaLiga,” concludes Kpebane.
