Cambridge United are looking to bounce straight back up to League One following relegation to the fourth tier last season and have added their tenth signing of the summer.
With this objective in mind, Neil Harris’ side have signed Blackpool striker Kylian Kouassi. The 22 year old joins the U’s on a loan deal until the end of the 2025-26 season.
How have Cambridge United started the 2025-26 season?
Cambridge United have had a mixed start to their first campaign in the fourth tier since the 2020-21 season. Their only victory of the campaign so far came on the opening day with a 1-0 win against Cheltenham Town.
Defeat on the road at Swindon Town followed before a 1-1 draw at home to Harrogate Town. The U’s will feel that the draw was two points dropped having accumulated an expected goals figure of 2.09 xG from 16 attempts compared to Harrogate’s 0.20 xG from four attempts.
Neil Harris’s side have an EFL Cup tie at home to Championship side Charlton Athletic to look forward to after winning 2-0 at Bristol Rovers in the first round. The U’s will hope that signing Kouassi will provide them with an extra dimension in attack for the remainder of the season.
Who is Kylian Kouassi?
Kouassi started his career in the EFL with Sutton United. After a number of loan spells in the lower levels of non-league, the striker made his debut for the South London side in 2022.
After 46 appearances for Sutton during their spell in the EFL, the striker opted to join League One side Blackpool. In his first season in Lancashire, Kouassi scored five goals in 24 appearances but spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Salford City.
At the age of 22, the striker is back in League Two with Neil Harris’ side and hoping to build on the experience gained in the division last season.
What could Kylian Kouassi bring to Cambridge United?
Despite his young age, the striker has a good level of experience in the fourth tier having made over 65 appearances at the level. Kouassi was a member of the Salford side that was competing at the top of division which is where the U’s will want to be competing this season.
One of the 22 year old’s biggest attributes is his aerial ability, winning an average of 6.43 aerial duels per 90 minutes in League Two last season. According to fotmob’s player traits graphic, Kouassi won more aerial duels than 95% of strikers in the division.
The former Sutton academy graduate is capable of winning his duels and beating opposition defenders in 1v1 situations. During his loan at Salford, Kouassi won 9.7 duels and completed 1.32 successful dribbles per 90 minutes on average.
The 22 year old’s attributes allow other members of his team to benefit as well in the form of chance creation. Kouassi created an average of 1.53 chances per 90 minutes and 90% more chances than other strikers in League Two.
Is Kylian Kouassi a good signing for Cambridge United?
Upon completing the deal for Kouassi, Neil Harris emphasised the impact he believes the striker could have on his side:
“He is a real handful for defenders, and we believe he will add a different dimension and strength to our attacking options this season”.
The signing of Kouassi gives Harris a number of options in the striker department alongside Louis Appere, Elias Kachunga and Shayne Lavery. Despite the options available this campaign, the U’s rank joint fourth for big chances missed at an average of 1.3 per 90 minutes.
On top of this, Harris’ side could benefit from Kouassi’s aerial attributes. Cambridge rank joint sixth in League Two for accurate crosses per 90 minutes this season with 4.7 on average and a crossing accuracy of 23%.
The loan deal could be of benefit to both parties as well. At the age of 22, Kouassi will need regular first-team football in order to aid his development and he will be able to do this under the guidance of former striker Harris.
The last time Cambridge United won promotion to League One they were the league’s top scorers with 1.6 goals per game. Adding Kylian Kouassi to their squad could provide them with the depth and different dimension required in order to challenge again this season.
