Official: Hassane Bandé returns to Mechelen

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·23 October 2025

Official: Hassane Bandé returns to Mechelen

After spending last summer as a free agent, Hassane Bandé has officially signed his return to Belgium with KV Mechelen, the club where his European adventure began in 2017. The Belgian Pro League side announced the signing of the Burkinabé international winger on October 23, 2025.

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Hassane Bandé has inked a one-year contract with an option for an additional season. Just a few weeks before the kickoff of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Burkinabé international finds a new home after the end of his contract with HJK Helsinki in Finland, where he spent two seasons from 2023 to August 2025.

An opportunity for both sides

For Mechelen, "It's an exceptional opportunity that we seize with both hands," commented sporting director Tom Caluwé. According to him, the Burkinabé's signing is not driven by nostalgia. The player, a product of Salitas in Ouagadougou, has been training with Mechelen's first team for several weeks and has impressed the technical staff with his excellent physical and mental readiness.

Fred Vanderbiest, Mechelen's coach, said a few days ago:

If the development is positive, you can never predict that. He's the type of striker we're currently missing: he fits between Lauberbach and Raman. Technically strong, good at holding up the ball, and able to play with his back to goal. He can also play on the wing or as a false nine. Under Van Wijk, he sometimes played on the right."

For Bandé, this return is the perfect opportunity to revive his career in an environment he knows well.

It's fantastic to be back here. Since my return to Mechelen, I've received so many messages from the fans. Now it's time to rediscover the joy where it all started for me and help the team as much as I can.

A gradual comeback

The 26-year-old star will be presented this Saturday at the team's Achter de Kazerne stadium. He will take the ceremonial kickoff for the twelfth round of the Belgian Pro League match between Mechelen and OH Leuven. Hassane Bandé is expected to wait a little longer before officially returning to competitive action, pending the completion of all administrative procedures.

It was in Mechelen, back in 2017, that Hassane's European journey truly began. Back then, the young talent quickly established himself as one of the revelations of the Belgian league, dazzling everyone with his performances, enthusiasm, and scoring instinct—at one point even topping the scoring charts. His outstanding displays led to a blockbuster transfer worth over €8 million to Ajax Amsterdam, one of the biggest deals in the Belgian club's history.