Leicester City midfielder Boubakary Soumaré is reportedly on his way out of the club after yet another disappointing performance, this time in the 2-1 defeat to Hull City.
His display has been labelled one of the poorest by a Foxes player this season — and it appears to have sealed his fate under Marti Cifuentes.
Soumaré’s performance at the MKM Stadium left both fans and pundits baffled.
“A bizarre game. He was so poor for so long, not knowing what to do on the ball, losing it regularly, and looking uncomfortable in attack. But then he improved greatly and set up big chances for Ramsey and Fatawu, supporting the winger well on the right.”
Despite that brief improvement, his overall showing earned him a damning 4/10 rating. It summed up a player who has never fully found his footing at Leicester since arriving from Lille, and this latest outing may be his final straw.
Reports from Spain earlier this month linked Soumaré with a move to Sevilla — the same club where he spent the 2023/24 season on loan. Sevilla are said to be exploring the option of signing him permanently, while Leicester are no longer ruling out a January sale. The Foxes want to cash in rather than risk losing him for free later.
According to Estadio Deportivo, “circumstances have changed” in the midfielder’s situation, with Leicester now actively considering offloading him as early as the winter window. The report adds that Cifuentes’ decision not to rely on Soumaré recently has made a sale more likely, even though Sevilla may struggle financially to complete the deal due to his €5m annual wage.
Soumaré has featured in 11 matches this season, clocking 787 minutes in all competitions. However, he has fallen down the pecking order, with Cifuentes favouring other midfield options. The Leicester boss was blunt in his post-match assessment of the Hull defeat, describing his team as “fragile” and openly criticising players for failing to track back with full commitment during counter-attacks. Those comments were interpreted by many as a veiled reference to individuals like Soumaré, whose lack of defensive intensity has been a recurring issue.
The Frenchman’s time at the King Power has been a story of flashes and frustration — moments of composure on the ball overshadowed by spells of indecision and inconsistency. While his passing range and physical presence once looked promising, his inability to adapt to the demands of English football has left him exposed, especially in games like the one against Hull.
With his contract running down and confidence visibly low, Soumaré’s chapter at Leicester appears to be nearing its end. Marti Cifuentes is keen on reshaping the squad with players who fit his pressing system, and Soumaré no longer seems to be part of that vision.
As Leicester look to regain momentum in their Championship campaign, the decision to part ways with the Frenchman feels both tactical and symbolic — a statement that underperformers, regardless of status or reputation, will be moved on.
After Tuesday’s defeat, the message from the Leicester camp was unmistakable: circumstances have changed, and so has Soumaré’s standing at the club. His departure now seems imminent as the January window approaches.