Leicester City have confirmed the signing of French midfielder Boubakary Soumare from Ligue 1 champions Lille.
The 22-year-old has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, where Manchester United and Chelsea often tipped to move to Soumare, but Leicester moved up in the queue for their signature earlier this summer.
- Advertisement -
Talks with Lille may have taken a little longer than fans may have liked, but Leicester have now confirmed that Soumare has put paper on paper on a five-year contract at King Power Stadium.
“I’m really proud to be in the Premier League and a great club like Leicester,” he told the club’s official website. “It will really help me develop my game and progress as a player, so I feel it’s the right step. for me.
“Leicester is a very ambitious club. When they talked to me about their plans and what they wanted from me, I knew right away that I wanted to come. I am really so proud and honored to be here and I will give everything for the team and the club to make everyone happy. ”
#BienvenueBoubakary ??? pic.twitter.com/Z1fk4xvIn2
– Leicester City (@LCFC) July 2, 2021
No transfer fee is mentioned, although most reports agree that Leicester have scrapped close to £ 17m for the high-ranked midfielder.
Soumare will be Leicester’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of Zambia striker Patson Daka, who sealed a £ 23m move from Red Bull Salzburg at the end of June.
The pair will probably also be followed by former Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand, who undergoes a doctor with the foxes before agreeing to a free transfer.
Can’t wait to see you play in Leicester Blue, @ PatsonDaka20! ? pic.twitter.com/u0gYnliJmO
– Leicester City (@LCFC) June 30, 2021
Regularly compared to Paul Pogba due to his tall physique and impressive ball-bearing abilities, Soumare will now compete with Youri Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi at Brendan Rodger’s midfield.
The move ends Soumare’s four years in Lille, for which he managed to play 112 appearances and played an important role in last season’s Ligue 1 triumph.
For more from Tom Gott, follow him on Twitter!
