Jonathan Panzo: Kocaelispor linked with move for England and Ivory Coast defender

England and Ivory Coast defender Jonathan Panzo, currently without a club, is being linked with a move to Turkish Super Lig side Kocaelispor.

The rumour emerged on 18 August, with Panzo listed as a potential target for the newly linked club. No transfer fee or probability has been reported, while the 25-year-old’s market value is listed at €1.5m.

Panzo became unattached on 1 July 2026 after leaving Birmingham, having joined the Championship club from Portuguese side Rio Ave on 2 February. He made 42 Championship appearances during his career, scoring once and providing one assist, and has also played in Ligue 1, Liga Portugal and the Belgian top flight.

The left-footed centre-back began his senior career after leaving Chelsea’s academy for Monaco B in 2018. He later spent time with Cercle Brugge, Dijon, Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Cardiff, Standard Liege, Rio Ave and Birmingham. His move to Nottingham Forest followed a €1.7m transfer from Dijon in January 2022.

Panzo was part of England’s Under-17 squad that won the 2017 World Cup and twice won the English Under-18 league with Chelsea. He represents a player with experience across several European leagues, but remains without a club as speculation about a possible move to Kocaelispor develops.