Metz’s Boubakar Kouyaté close to signing with Montpellier | OneFootball

According to a report from L’Équipe, Montpellier HSC are close to acquiring the signature of FC Metz defender Boubakar Kouyaté, with whom they have agreed a €6m transfer fee.

The Malian international (21 caps) arrived in the south on Wednesday evening to complete the deal, which will last until 2026. Other clubs had also been interested, such as FC Augsburg, Beşiktaş, and, most recently, Serie A’s U.S. Salernitana. The 25-year-old rejected a move to Italy in favour of a return to Ligue 1. His current side, Metz, were relegated to France’s second division last season.

Kouyaté had pushed for a move away last summer, with both freshly-relegated Burnley and Turkey’s Galatasaray said to be interested at the time. A move away from France had been preferred by the former Troyes man, and both Augsburg and Beşiktaş had tabled offers of €4m. Despite this, it appears a return to the French top flight is imminent for Kouyaté. Details of the contract should be confirmed today, after which the defender will undergo a medical.