Ismaël Doukouré Signs New Strasbourg Deal Until 2028

Strasbourg and Ismaël Doukouré have reached an agreement on a new contract, keeping the young French defender at the club until June 2028. This extension is a major boost for Strasbourg, who managed to hold on to one of their most important players despite serious interest from England and Germany.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Ismaël Doukouré, 22, was close to the end of his original contract and had even been dropped from the first team after refusing earlier renewal offers. He was reportedly sought after by clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga, with rejected bids signalling his growing reputation. However, Strasbourg’s leadership, including head coach Liam Rosenior and the owners BlueCo, played a crucial part in securing his commitment for another three years. After agreeing to terms, Doukouré is now set to rejoin the squad and continue his career with the club he joined from Valenciennes.

CONTEXT AND SEASON SO FAR

Doukouré played almost every Ligue 1 match for Strasbourg last season, showing his quality as a centre-back and defensive midfielder. Strasbourg narrowly missed out on a Europa League spot, finishing 7th in Ligue 1, just four points behind Olympique Lyonnais in 6th place, qualifying them for the Conference League instead. As per recent accounts, Doukouré’s performances—2 goals, 1 assist, 31 league starts—made him indispensable, so his extension is a statement of the club’s ambition to improve on last season’s results. The club’s owners, BlueCo, who also own Chelsea, have made clear they see Doukouré as a foundation for Strasbourg’s future. Strasbourg is looking to qualify for European competitions as they aim for a higher finish in Ligue 1 this season.

LOOKING AHEAD

Retaining Doukouré strengthens Strasbourg’s defense as they prepare for the upcoming Ligue 1 season. Their opening match was a 1-0 against FC Metz, who finished 15th last season and narrowly escaped relegation, and they will play Nantes next, who lost their opener to PSG. Before that, they will play the Conference League playoffs, where they will be facing Brondby for a spot in the group stage. With Doukouré back in the squad, Strasbourg hope to secure more points and build momentum. All eyes will be on how their reinforced team performs as the new season unfolds.