Soumaila Coulibaly (22) has joined EFL Championship side Watford on a season-long loan from RC Strasbourg Alsace.

Coulibaly has spent the last two seasons on loan at Stade Brestois. Upon his return to Alsace this summer, the defender had hoped to have time to consider his future, but Le Racing’s recruitment drive in his sector of the pitch means that he has little prospect of game time. That fact has been reinforced by the Ligue 1 club’s decision to send Andrew Omobamidele out on a straight loan deal. The Irishman was a regular last season and played both of RCSA’s league games this season; against RC Lens last weekend, he even wore the captain’s last weekend, but he has now moved to Anderlecht in Belgium.

Coulibaly has also left Le Racing. Unlike Omobamidele’s deal, Coulibaly’s loan to Watford does include an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season, as Strasbourg confirmed.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle