Abu Francis signs 4-year deal with Toulouse from Cercle Brugge

Ghanaian midfielder Abu Francis has officially signed a four-year contract with French Ligue 1 side Toulouse, completing a move from Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge.

The 24-year-old joins the French outfit after a solid spell with Cercle Brugge, where he made over 60 league appearances, scoring once and providing seven assists.

Francis attracted widespread interest during the transfer window.

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Turkish clubs İstanbul Başakşehir FK and Trabzonspor were among the frontrunners for his signature, while English side Burnley and Italian clubs Torino and Genoa also monitored his situation.

However, Toulouse emerged as the preferred destination and sealed the deal.

"I'm very happy to be here,” Abu told the club's media.

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“I can't wait to start this new challenge and join this wonderful family. I'm also looking forward to discovering the Pink City and meeting all the club's incredible supporters.”

A product of Ghana’s prestigious Right to Dream Academy, Abu began his professional career with Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjaelland before moving to Belgium in 2022.

Internationally, Francis has been capped five times by the Ghana national team, the Black Stars, making his debut in March 2024.

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The Bigger Picture

The move to Toulouse offers Abu Francis a fresh opportunity to compete at a higher level and establish himself as a regular in Ligue 1.

With Ghana set to face Mali and Chad in September 2025 as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the midfielder will be keen to deliver consistent performances in France to earn another national team call-up.