Manchester City midfielder Mahamadou Susoho permanently joined Kocaelispor. It brought an end to his long association with the Sky Blues as he completed the transfer to the Turkish Super Lig club.
The 21-year-old leaves the Etihad having risen through every level of the club’s Academy system, a journey that began when he first arrived in Manchester as a teenager in 2017.
Susoho spent the opening months of the 2025/26 season on loan at Scottish Premiership side Livingston, where he featured prominently. The technically gifted midfielder made 18 league appearances in Scotland, gaining further exposure to the demands of senior football.
His performances convinced suitors abroad that he was ready for a fresh challenge away from English football.
City confirmed that Mahamadou Susoho permanently joined Kocaelispor on Saturday, drawing the curtain on a development story that has stretched almost a decade.
Few graduates have experienced such a steady climb through the ranks, and the club were quick to acknowledge his contribution.
“Everyone at Manchester City would like to wish Mahamadou the very best of luck on the next stage of his football journey,” Manchester City said through its official website.
From academy prospect to first-team experience
Susoho’s path mirrored that of many young talents at City, yet his progress often caught the eye more sharply than most.
After joining the Academy, he adapted quickly to the technical style demanded by the coaching staff and was soon viewed as one of the standout midfielders of his age group. Coaches regularly highlighted his composure on the ball and his ability to read the rhythm of matches.
The 2021/22 season proved to be an important milestone. Promoted to the Under-18 squad, Susoho amassed 17 appearances and played a key role as the side lifted the Under-18 Premier League title.
It was a campaign that underlined his growing influence and suggested that a step up was imminent.
That promotion arrived the following year when he became a regular feature for the Under-21s.
Across the 2022/23 campaign he appeared 20 times in all competitions, operating both as a holding midfielder and occasionally further forward.
His assured displays did not go unnoticed by Pep Guardiola’s coaching team, who began to involve him in senior training sessions.
The ultimate reward came in December 2023 when Susoho was handed his competitive first-team debut against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League.
Although City had already secured qualification from the group stage, the occasion represented a significant vote of confidence in the youngster’s ability.
Friends and family watched from the stands as he experienced the intensity of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time.
More exposure followed during City’s pre-season tour of the United States in the summer of 2024. Susoho travelled with the senior squad, featuring in several friendly matches and training alongside established internationals.
The trip provided a glimpse of the standards required at the very top level and convinced the player that regular football elsewhere would be the best next step.
City opted to send Susoho out on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, selecting Peterborough United as the ideal environment for his introduction to the English Football League. The move proved productive.
He played 17 times in all competitions, gradually adjusting to the physical nature of League One football.
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His time at London Road ended on a high as Peterborough lifted the EFL Trophy, with Susoho involved throughout the cup run.
Team-mates praised his professionalism and willingness to learn, qualities that had already defined his years in Manchester.
Another loan followed this season, this time north of the border with Livingston. The Scottish Premiership presented a different test, demanding resilience and tactical discipline.
Again Susoho responded positively, becoming a regular starter and earning favourable reviews for his ball retention and defensive awareness.
Kocaelispor’s interest intensified during the winter window as they sought to strengthen their midfield options.
Negotiations progressed quickly, and Mahamadou Susoho permanently joined Kocaelispor, signing on a long-term deal. For the young player, the move offers the chance to establish himself in a top-flight league and to continue the upward trajectory that began in City’s youth ranks.
