Abdoulaye Cissé has completed a permanent move from Serbian side Novi Pazar to Tobol Kostanay, joining the Kazakhstan Premier Liga club for a reported fee of €70,000. The Guinea international defensive midfielder arrives in Kostanay with a current market valuation of €700,000 and has signed a contract running from 2026-02-03 to 2028-12-31.
The transfer ends Cissé’s latest spell at Novi Pazar, where he had been one of the club’s most valuable assets in the Serbian Super Liga. His move to Tobol ensures he will continue his career abroad, competing in Kazakhstan’s top flight rather than in his home country of Guinea. The deal also represents a notable piece of business for Tobol, who have secured a player valued at ten times the fee they are believed to have paid.
Born in Conakry and standing 1.81m tall, Cissé has built a profile as a specialist in the defensive midfield role, operating primarily in front of the back line and favouring his right foot. His transfer to Tobol adds further international experience to a career that has already taken him through several European and Asian leagues, including stints in France, Türkiye, Israel and Serbia.
Cissé’s journey began outside Europe at Fello Star de Labé in Guinea before a move to Angers SCO B in France. He later joined FC Martigues and SC Schiltigheim, remaining in the French system until 2020, when he first switched to Novi Pazar. That opened the door to a series of moves across the continent: Kocaelispor and Menemen FK in Türkiye, a short spell at Beykoz Anadolu Spor, and multiple returns to Novi Pazar, interspersed with a move to Hapoel Hadera in Israel.
His market value has risen steadily over recent years. From €350,000 at Novi Pazar in late 2020, it climbed to €375,000 at Kocaelispor and then fluctuated around the €300,000–€500,000 range during his time in Türkiye. A strong period back at Novi Pazar saw his valuation reach €500,000 before hitting €700,000 in 2025, a level he maintained in the lead-up to this transfer.
At 29, Cissé joins Tobol in what can be considered the prime of his career. The move positions him as a key option in defensive midfield for the Kazakh club, which competes in the Premier Liga and aims to strengthen its spine with an experienced, internationally travelled player. For Novi Pazar, it marks the departure of a familiar figure who has been part of the club’s structure across several seasons and transfer cycles.
This confirmed switch also carries contractual significance. Having previously experienced periods without a club earlier in his career, Cissé now has medium-term security with Tobol Kostanay until 2028-12-31. The length of the deal reduces the short‑term risk of him becoming a free agent again and gives both player and club a stable horizon for planning.
For supporters in Guinea, Cissé’s latest move extends a long‑running pattern: he continues to represent his country abroad rather than in the domestic championship. For Tobol’s fans, his arrival is a statement that the club is willing to invest in a player whose value on the market far exceeds the paid fee. How effectively he anchors Tobol’s midfield in Kazakhstan’s Premier Liga will go a long way to determining whether this move becomes the defining chapter of his career.
