Benfica loan canceled
©IMAGO
Last summer, Werder Bremen negotiated a move for Issa Kaboré (23) with Manchester City, but the right-back moved to Benfica in Portugal. Six months later, the Green-Whites were able to convince the Burkina Faso international – he is coming on loan until the end of the season. Previously, Kaboré’s loan to Benfica was canceled due to a lack of playing time. According to “Bild” information, the Bremen-based company was unable to secure a purchase option.
His move to Portugal did not bring the expected playing time. Kaboré played a total of 193 minutes in seven competitive games for Benfica. The Dane Alexander Bah (27) received preference for his position. For the 23-year-old defender, who moved to Manchester for 4.5 million euros in the summer of 2020, this is the sixth loan after KV Mechelen, Troyes, Olympique Marseille, Luton Town and Benfica. In the previous season he played 24 games in the Premier League for the Hatters. He made it into the Citizens squad twice before and after without being used.
On the Weser, Kaboré will be an alternative for Mitchell Weiser (30), who is the best Bundesliga defender in this category with five assists. Werder coach Ole Werner also tried out Weiser behind the leaders in the first half of the season, so signing Kaboré makes the team more variable. Other full-backs in the squad include Galatasaray loanee Derrick Köhn (25), the currently injured Felix Agu (25) and Olivier Deman (24). The latter was only on the pitch for 79 minutes this season and was released for talks with another club.
Werder Bremen ensures variability with Kaboré loan
“Issa is a very interesting player who was able to gain experience in various international leagues in his younger years. Due to Olivier Deman’s impending move and Felix Agu’s absence, we had the short-term opportunity to loan Issa until the end of the season. He fits our requirements profile because he can be used flexibly and can play on both flanks. We want to ensure that all positions continue to be filled twice. We are very happy that the loan worked out at such short notice,” explained licensing manager Peter Niemeyer.
Kaboré is a real bargain for Bremen. As “Bild” reports, no loan fee goes to Manchester and the Citizens also pay the majority of the salary. He is the fifth newcomer to Werder this season and the second loan signing after Köhn. Bremen have invested a total of 6.8 million euros in the squad so far.
“I’m really looking forward to my new role at Werder and in the Bundesliga. Werder is having a very good season so far. I would like to do my part to build on the good first half of the season and get to know the club, the fans and the city,” said Kaboré.