Andrew Olsson
January 20, 2026Cameroon defender Samuel Kotto moves on loan to France’s Ligue 2
Cameroon defender Samuel Kotto (right) in action against South Africa at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Photo: Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT)
Cameroon defender Samuel Kotto moves on loan to France’s Ligue 2
Cameroon national team central defender Samuel Kotto is off to France, where he will play for Stade de Reims for the remainder of the 2025-26 season in France’s Ligue 2 on loan from Belgian club KAA Gent.
View this post on Instagram
The 22-year-old joins with an option to buy for Reims and is expected to be a regular contributor as the club attempts to return to Ligue 1. Reports indicate that Kotto’s new club paid €900,000 to acquire the defender on loan with an option to purchase on a permanent basis for €4 million.
Kotto has struggled to obtain regular playing time in European club football since leaving renowned Yaoundé club APEJES Academy for Swedish club Malmo FF in 2022 at the age of 18. However, his latest move presents an excellent opportunity to advance his club career after performing very well at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Indomitable Lions.
He made four appearances at the tournament in Morocco, with particularly impressive performances against Gabon (1-0 victory) and in the Round of 16 victory over South Africa where he assisted one of the goals.
Samuel Kotto struggled for regular playing time with Gent, where he made 18 appearances over the last one and a half seasons with the Jupiler Pro League club.
Reims’ next match in Ligue 2 will be on Saturday when they host Saint-Étienne. Les Rouges et Blancs are currently in 5th place on the table, nine points back of leaders ESTAC Troyes and only three points behind second place Parisian club Red Star FC. The top two finishers will achieve direct promotion to Ligue 1 while the next three clubs qualify for a promotion playoff.