Blackpool have lost forward Kylian Kouassi on a permanent basis, with the 23-year-old joining Colchester United for an undisclosed fee, according to a report by BBC Sport. Kouassi has signed a two-year contract at his new club, bringing to an end his association with the Seasiders after two years on the books at Bloomfield Road.
Two loan spells away from Blackpool
Kouassi arrived at Blackpool in 2023 but spent the bulk of his time away from the third tier on loan. He had stints at Salford City and Cambridge United across back-to-back seasons, accumulating experience in the fourth tier rather than forcing his way into contention at League One level.
At Cambridge, Kouassi made 14 League Two appearances as the club mounted a promotion campaign in the 2025-26 season. In total, the forward made 28 appearances during his time associated with the Seasiders, though his minutes in Blackpool's first team were limited given the loan arrangements.
A brief League One cameo before the exit
Despite rarely featuring for Blackpool in League One, Kouassi did make an impression at the very start of the current campaign. According to the BBC Sport report, he scored in Blackpool's 3-1 EFL Cup away victory over Grimsby Town, underlining that he retained the confidence of the coaching staff even as his future was being resolved.
That appearance was understood to be his last in a Blackpool shirt, with the transfer completing shortly after. The fee has not been disclosed by either club.
What it means for Blackpool's squad
From a League One perspective, the departure of Kouassi represents a thinning of the Seasiders' attacking options, albeit one the club may have anticipated given that he had not established himself as a first-team regular during his time on the books. Ian Evatt's side have been active this summer in reshaping the squad, and the outgoing transfer will free up both wages and a registered squad place.
Blackpool will hope that any funds raised, even if modest, can be reinvested in areas of the pitch where Evatt has been seeking to add quality and competition. The club's form and recruitment in recent weeks suggests that the manager has a clear picture of the type of player he wants to bring into the building, and Kouassi's profile was perhaps no longer a fit for those requirements at this level.
Kouassi is understood to be Colchester's ninth summer signing, which indicates an ambitious rebuild at the Essex club. For Blackpool, the focus now turns firmly to the business that remains to be done ahead of the League One campaign, with Evatt having spoken publicly about the standards he demands from his squad this season.
The Seasiders will be keen to consolidate their League One status and push for the upper reaches of the table, and decisions such as this one reflect the pragmatic approach the club is taking to squad management as the season gets under way.
Frequently asked
- Why has Kylian Kouassi left Blackpool?
- Kouassi departed Blackpool after spending both of his seasons on the books away on loan at Salford City and Cambridge United, suggesting he was not part of the first-team plans at League One level. Colchester United signed him permanently for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.
- How much did Colchester pay for Kouassi?
- The fee has not been disclosed by either club. BBC Sport report the transfer as being for an undisclosed amount.
- How many times did Kouassi play for Blackpool?
- Kouassi made 28 appearances in total during his time associated with Blackpool, though the majority of those came during loan spells at other clubs rather than in Blackpool's League One side.