Lecce add France-Mali full-back Ali Dembele for Serie A campaign

France-Mali defender Ali Dembele has joined Lecce from Torino on loan, giving the Serie A club a new right-back for the 2026-27 season. The move was completed on 30 August 2026, with Dembele’s spell at Lecce running until 30 June 2027.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Villepinte, is eligible to represent both France and Mali and plays primarily on the right side of defence. A right-footed player standing at 1.89m, Dembele arrives after spending the previous campaign under Torino’s ownership.

Dembele began the 2025-26 season with Torino before moving to Mantova on loan on 2 February 2026. He returned to Torino at the end of that temporary spell on 30 June, before securing a further loan move to Lecce.

His switch to Torino followed an earlier loan at Venezia during the 2023-24 campaign. Before that, he progressed from Torino’s youth set-up into the senior club structure, having moved to the Italian side from Troyes Under-19s in July 2022.

The transfer adds another Italian league experience to Dembele’s developing career. His senior club history has so far included Torino, Venezia and Mantova, with Lecce becoming the latest destination in a series of moves between Italian clubs.

Lecce compete in Serie A and the Italy Cup during the 2026-27 season. Dembele’s arrival gives the club a player with experience of the Italian football system and a natural role at right-back, while his return to Torino is scheduled for the end of the loan period.

Dembele joins Lecce with a listed market value of €1.3m and will remain with the club until 30 June 2027 before returning to Torino.