Victorien Angban close to BATE Borisov move as Ivorian seeks career revival

Ivory Coast international midfielder Victorien Angban is closing in on a move to BATE Borisov as the 29-year-old looks to relaunch his career after months without a club.

Angban has been unattached since leaving FK Sochi in August last year and is now expected to continue his career in Belarus.

Negotiations with BATE Borisov began only a few days ago but have reportedly progressed quickly, with the two sides reaching an agreement.

The midfielder is expected to sign his contract in the coming days, provided there are no last-minute changes to the arrangement.

He is also due to travel to Belarus soon to complete a medical examination before the deal is officially confirmed.

Angban began his football journey in his native Ivory Coast with Stade d’Abidjan before moving to England to join the youth ranks of Chelsea FC.

Although he developed within Chelsea’s academy system, he did not establish himself in the first team and instead spent several seasons on loan across Europe.

Those temporary moves took him to Belgium with Sint-Truiden and Waasland-Beveren, before further spells in Spain and France with Granada CF and FC Metz.

Metz eventually signed Angban on a permanent basis in 2019 for a reported fee of €6m. He spent his first season with the club in Ligue 2 before helping them compete in France’s top flight over the following two campaigns.

In 2021, the midfielder moved to Russia to join FK Sochi. However, his time there proved inconsistent, and he struggled to secure a regular role in the squad. A loan spell with Dinamo Makhachkala last season did little to change that situation.

After leaving Sochi last year, Angban has been searching for a new opportunity to rebuild his career.

If the expected move is completed, BATE Borisov will offer the Ivorian a fresh start and a chance to rediscover the form that once made him one of the more promising midfielders to emerge from Chelsea’s academy system.

An official announcement from the Belarusian club is anticipated soon once the final formalities have been completed.