Belgian Pro League club KAA Gent has officially signed 21-year-old Cameroonian center-back Samuel Kotto from Swedish side Malmö FF. The transfer fee is reported to be €800,000, with potential performance-based bonuses amounting to an additional €500,000.
Kotto, who stands at 1.90 meters, began his European career with Malmö FF in 2022 after moving from Cameroon at the age of 18. During his tenure in Sweden, he gained experience through loan spells at BK Olympic, Landskrona BoIS, and most recently, IFK Värnamo in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top division.
At KAA Gent, Kotto has signed a contract extending until 2028 and will wear the number 2 jersey. Expressing his enthusiasm, Kotto stated, “I am moved and proud to call myself a Buffalo. Now it’s time to work hard to help my teammates and the coaching staff. I want to thank everyone already for the support.”
KAA Gent’s Manager of Sports, Arnar Vidarsson, commented on the signing: “We know that we need players who can have an immediate impact on our team, but defensively we could still bring in a young player with potential. Kotto has enormous athletic ability and is fast. Through his years in Sweden, he is also already tactically trained.”
This acquisition comes as KAA Gent seeks to strengthen its defense following a series of inconsistent results in the league. The club aims to solidify its backline with Kotto’s addition, reflecting their strategy to build a younger, more dynamic team.
Malmö FF’s Sporting Director, Daniel Andersson, acknowledged the move, stating, “Samuel Kotto is a talented player who has done well during his loans and had a fine development.
But there is tough competition for starting spots at MFF, and now an opportunity has arisen that all parties are satisfied with. We wish him good luck in Belgium!”
Kotto’s arrival is anticipated to provide the defensive stability KAA Gent has been seeking as they strive for success in the Belgian Pro League.
