Mantova complete Serie B return for Parma’s Rachid Kouda

Burkina Faso-Italy midfielder Rachid Kouda has joined Mantova from Parma on loan, returning to the Serie B club after making the move permanent until 30 June 2027.

The 24-year-old central midfielder switches from Serie A side Parma in a deal completed on 28 August 2026. The agreement runs until the end of the 2026-27 season, when he is due to return to Parma.

Kouda has already spent time at Mantova, joining the club on loan in January 2026. He returned to Parma at the end of June before completing a second temporary move to Mantova two months later.

The midfielder made one Serie A appearance for Parma during the opening phase of the 2026-27 campaign, playing 15 minutes. He also featured once in Serie A during his career before the current season, giving him two top-flight appearances overall.

Born in Cantu, Italy, Kouda began his senior career with Caratese before moving to Picerno in July 2022. He joined Spezia Calcio from Picerno the following year, with Spezia paying a fee of €450,000 for the transfer.

Parma signed Kouda from Spezia in August 2024 for €4m. He subsequently spent time away from Parma on loan at Spezia and Mantova, before returning to the Parma squad during the summer.

Kouda, who is 1.88m tall and favours his right foot, will now link up with Mantova’s midfield group in Serie B. His return gives the club a player who has already represented them during the previous season.

The move also continues a series of temporary spells in Kouda’s recent career. His first recorded loan came in January 2021, when he moved from Caratese to Cagliari Under-19, while his later loans included returns to Spezia and Mantova.

Kouda’s current market value is €2.2m, while his highest recorded valuation was €3.5m. He is contracted to Parma beyond the present loan spell, with the transfer arrangement set to expire on 30 June 2027.

Mantova have therefore secured Kouda’s return from Parma on loan, with the midfielder joining the Serie B club for the 2026-27 season.