Issiaka Kamaté is close to leaving Inter Milan for Espanyol in a deal worth about €3m, with the Spanish club looking to add the versatile midfielder to their squad.
The agreement is expected to include a significant sell-on clause, with Inter retaining 50% of any future transfer fee involving the 22-year-old.
Kamaté, who was born in France and is of Ivorian origin, has spent much of his football development at Inter after joining the Italian club at the age of 16.
The move to Espanyol would represent another important stage in a career that has already taken him through youth football in Italy and loan spells in Portugal and Italy.
The Catalan club are understood to have identified Kamaté as a player capable of providing additional options in midfield and on the wings.
His ability to operate in different positions is one of the qualities that has helped him attract interest from clubs in Spain and elsewhere.
Kamaté joined Inter’s youth system as a teenager and progressed through the club’s various age groups.
His performances were built around his work rate, physical strength and versatility, allowing him to contribute both from midfield and in wider attacking positions.
During the 2024-25 season, Inter sent him out on loan on two occasions. He first moved to AVS FC in Portugal before joining Modena in Italy’s Serie B.
Those spells gave the French-Ivorian an opportunity to experience senior football away from Inter’s youth structure and adapt to different styles and demands.
The experiences were considered an important part of his development as he sought to establish himself at professional level.
Kamaté subsequently returned to Inter and spent the following season with the club’s under-23 side.
His performances continued to attract attention, with several clubs monitoring his situation.
Spanish side Granada had previously made enquiries about the midfielder, while Atletico Madrid had also considered him for their reserve team.
Inter had valued Kamaté at around €6m, but the proposed move to Espanyol is expected to be completed for approximately €3m.
The structure of the agreement would nevertheless give Inter an opportunity to benefit from the player’s future career. By retaining 50% of any subsequent transfer fee, the Italian club would remain financially involved if Kamaté were to secure another move later in his career.
For Espanyol, the transfer fits a strategy centred on youth and potential while also addressing a need for greater depth across midfield and the wings.
Kamaté’s versatility could be particularly valuable to the Catalan club because he is capable of operating in more than one position.
At 22, the midfielder is also approaching a key period of his career.
After progressing through Inter’s academy and gaining experience through loan spells, a permanent move to Spain could give him an opportunity to establish himself in a new environment.
