Mali national team midfielder Mamadou Sangaré joins RC Lens

Mali international midfielder Mamadou Sangaré completed a successful spell in Austria on Wednesday with a transfer to French Ligue 1 club RC Lens from Rapid Vienna.

 

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Lens confirmed their latest acquisition with a video on social media styled after the famous American animated television show The Simpsons. Sangaré arrives for a reported transfer fee of €8 million on a five-year contract.

The Malian developed under the eye of the Red Bull system after moving to Red Bull Salzburg from Malian affiliate club Yeelen Olympique. Like many other talented young Malians, including Dorgeles Nene, Sangaré spent time on loan with RB Salzburg reserve team FC Liefering in Austria’s second tier for his first playing experience in European football.

A loan to another second tier side, Grazer AK, followed before two seasons with Austrian Bundesliga side TSV Hartberg after half of a season spent at Zulte Waregem of Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League. Sangaré made close to 100 appearances on loan before completing a permanent transfer to Rapid Vienna where he starred for the 5th place finishers during the 2024-25 season.

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An energetic player who prefers to operate in a central “box-to-box” midfield role, Sangaré appears ready to take on the new challenge after breaking into the Mali national team. The 23-year-old has appeared in six of the last eight competitive matches for Les Aigles in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Lens lost their opening match of the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season last weekend, a 0-1 result at home against Lyon. They will next face Le Havre away from home on Sunday.