Issa Kabore has continued Manchester City’s full-back exodus by agreeing a season-long loan to join Portuguese giants Benfica.
Joao Cancelo made a permanent departure from the Etihad Stadium by joining Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal on Tuesday.
The Portugal international played a pivotal role in City’s Premier League titles in 2020/21 and 2021/22 before falling out with manager Pep Guardiola. Kabore, by contrast, has never played a game for City since joining from Belgian club Mechelen in 2020. His loan move to Benfica follows similar spells at Troyes, Marseille and – in the English top-flight last season – Luton Town.
However, as reported Fabrice RomanoThe 23-year-old’s transfer to Lisbon does not include any purchase option for Benfica at the end of the loan.
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It is difficult to say that Kabore will definitely feature in City’s long-term first-team plans, not least because Guardiola himself will be out of contract at the end of this season. But the lack of a purchase option is interesting in the context of Kyle Walker’s future.
England right-back Walker was on the verge of leaving City for Bayern Munich last summer and was this time expected to be an alternative to Cancelo at Al Hilal. The 34-year-old is contracted to City until June 2026.
Rico Lewis started the season at right-back in Guardiola’s side, partly because Walker and his England colleagues in City’s squad were given an extended break after their Euro 2024 excursions.
Although Lewis, 19, is very different to Walker stylistically, with midfield capabilities, he is seen as the former Tottenham man’s long-term successor. However, the terms of Kabore’s move to Benfica suggest he could also have a role to play in City’s future post-Walker.
