Burkina Faso international Abdoul Ayinde has extended his contract with Belgian club KAA Gent until 2028, with the club holding an option to keep the defender for another season.
The new agreement rewards the 21-year-old left-back for his progress since arriving in Belgium from Burkina Faso in 2023 and follows his emergence from the club’s reserve side into the first-team set-up.
Ayinde joined Gent from Rahimo FC in the summer of 2023 and initially became part of Jong KAA Gent, the club’s reserve team.
His development continued quickly, with the defender becoming a regular starter and playing an important role in the team’s promotion campaign.
During the 2024-25 season, Ayinde missed just one league match as Jong KAA Gent won the First National title and secured promotion to the Challenger Pro League.
His performances also earned him opportunities with Gent’s senior team.
Ayinde made his first official appearance for the club on 11 February 2024, coming off the bench against Cercle Brugge.
The experience provided an early indication that the young Burkinabe defender was being considered for a future role at senior level.
That progression continued in early 2026 when he was promoted to the first team.
Despite moving into the senior squad, Ayinde continued to feature for Jong KAA Gent, allowing him to maintain regular playing time while adapting to the demands of first-team football.
The new contract underlines Gent’s belief in the defender’s long-term potential and gives him further time to establish himself at the Belgian club.
Ayinde’s rise has also been reflected at international level.
The left-back has progressed into the Burkina Faso national team and represented the country at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco earlier this year.
His international breakthrough adds another significant milestone to a career that has developed rapidly since his move from Rahimo FC.
In the space of three years, Ayinde has moved from playing football in Burkina Faso to establishing himself within the Gent system, helping the club’s reserve side win a league title and promotion, making his senior debut and earning recognition from his national team.
His journey has followed a gradual path through the Belgian club’s structure.
Rather than moving directly into the first team after arriving in 2023, Ayinde spent time with Jong KAA Gent, where regular appearances helped him adapt to Belgian football and develop his game.
His consistency during the 2024-25 campaign proved particularly important. Missing only one league match, he became a dependable member of the side that secured the First National championship and promotion.
That success provided another platform for his development.
The defender’s first-team opportunities subsequently increased, culminating in his promotion to the senior squad in early 2026.
Gent’s decision to renegotiate his contract now gives Ayinde a clear pathway to continue that development in Belgium.
The agreement runs until 2028, while the additional-season option could keep him at the club for a further year.
