Parma, 30 August 2024 – Parma Calcio announces the permanent signing of Mandela Keita from Royal Antwerp Football Club.

The 22-year-old Belgian midfielder is known for his specific playing style, excelling in tackles and passes, placing him at the top of the rankings in these areas within the Belgian league. He is also the youngest midfielder in the Belgian league since 2021 to have reached at least 80 appearances. In his career, he has achieved other significant milestones, such as making his debut for the Belgian national team in a 3-2 victory against Austria (13 October 2023) and playing in the Champions League. During his time at Antwerp, he made 64 total appearances and scored one goal.

The words of Mandela Keita: 'I am very happy to join this historic Italian club. I appreciated the trust that Parma Calcio showed in me and the project they presented. I will give my best to help my teammates achieve great results, and I hope to showcase my qualities to the club's fans as well. I can't wait to get started. See you soon, and Forza Parma!'

Statement from Sporting Director Mauro Pederzoli: 'Mandela Keita is an international profile of absolute calibre and quality. His arrival enhances the market strategy that our club has conducted and completes the squad with specific characteristics we were looking for. We are pleased because, in just a few days, he will be available to our coach, Fabio Pecchia, and his staff, as well as to his teammates. We are happy because we reached an agreement in the last 24 hours before the market closed, a deal that we had been pursuing for a long time'.