Luton Town have announced the signing of Manchester City defender Issa Kabore on a season-long loan, with the Hatters continuing to add to their squad ahead of their maiden Premier League campaign.
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at French club Marseille from the treble-winning Citizens, making 22 appearances in Ligue 1 as Les Olympiens finished third.
Four appearances in the group stage of the Champions League provided Kabore with a sprinkling of continental experience, although the right-back was unable to help his side progress into the knockout stages.
The Burkina Faso international has now enjoyed back-to-back campaigns in Ligue 1 after starting 26 matches for Troyes during a loan spell in the 2021-22 season.
Hatters manager Rob Edwards has been keen to add athleticism to his squad following their promotion to the Premier League in May, and the former Watford boss is expecting Kabore to make a big impact for the top-flight newcomers.
Issa signing to get excited about 🤩#COYH
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) July 21, 2023
"This is a really exciting signing and a big coup for the club, so I would like to thank everyone involved for getting it over the line," commented Edwards on the club's official website.
"We've had a lot of good feedback from the people we know at Manchester City, they really like him, and we think he is someone who is now more than ready for Premier League football; he has had really good challenges in the top division in France so now is the right time.
"His attributes will help us. He is an athlete and I think he will suit the way we want to play. He comes with a good level of experience and played 29 times in all competitions last year for a team that finished third in France, so we are very excited."
Kabore becomes Luton's fifth signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Chiedozie Ogbene, Mads Andersen, Tahith Chong and Marvelous Nakamba.
Dutchman Chong made the switch to Kenilworth Road from Birmingham City for a fee in the region of £5m, meaning that the 23-year-old will be involved in Premier League action for the first time since his 2019-20 campaign at Manchester United.
© Reuters
Centre-back Andersen and striker Ogbene are examples of how Luton are targeting the EFL market in this window, however the capture of Kabore suggests that the playoff winners are casting their net further than just the lower divisions of English football.
The right-back has featured 28 times for Burkina Faso since making his debut in the summer of 2019, and won Best Young Player at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 after helping the Stallions reach the semi-finals.
Despite having not played for Man City's first team following his transfer from Belgian outfit KV Mechelen in July 2020, the defender is rated highly by those associated with the Premier League champions.
Kabore is set to replace Cody Drameh at wing-back following the 21-year-old's return to parent club Leeds United, assuming that Edwards continues with the three-at-the-back system which helped them to promotion last term.
