KV Mechelen is searching for a new central midfielder and has placed PSV Eindhoven's French talent Sol Sidibé on its shortlist. That was revealed this week, following posts from journalist Sacha Tavolieri on X. Malinwa currently sits 14th in the Jupiler Pro League with just 2 points from 4 matches, a situation that shows the need for new quality.
Sacha Tavolieri was the first to break the news of the interest. "KV Mechelen showing concrete interest in Sol Sidibé! 🇫🇷", he posted. In a second message he added: "KV Mechelen scouts are looking for a central midfielder and have targeted the PSV Eindhoven Frenchman into a short-list." Tavolieri suggested talks could progress in the coming days. The club itself has not officially confirmed any negotiations.
Sol Sidibé is a 19-year-old midfielder who holds both English and French nationality. He has played for PSV Eindhoven since the summer of 2025, who signed him from Stoke City for a fee of 2.25 million euros. His contract in Eindhoven runs until mid-2029. Last season he featured mainly for Jong PSV in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, playing 38 matches (24 as a starter) and scoring one goal with one assist.
This season he has already made four appearances for PSV and even scored once, in the 2-2 draw against RKC Waalwijk last Friday. At Stoke City, he previously played 21 matches for the first team, 12 of them in the Championship. Transfermarkt currently values the right-footed player at 1 million euros.
The sporting need at KV Mechelen is acute. After four matchdays, the club has yet to win a game and is near the bottom of the standings with 2 points. The team lost to KAA Gent and Charleroi and drew against Standard and La Louvière. After the 2-2 draw with La Louvière last Saturday, the second point of the season, Fred Vanderbiest acknowledged the team could have won that match.
The squad is also dealing with several absences. Bill Antonio, Leo Fuhr Hjelde, and Tijn Van Ingelgom are currently listed on the injuries page. The arrival of a dynamic, young midfielder like Sidibé could broaden coach Vanderbiest's options. Malinwa has scored 5 goals this season but also conceded 9, a -4 goal difference that needs improvement.
A move to the Jupiler Pro League would offer Sol Sidibé a chance for more first-team minutes at a high level. At PSV, he must compete with established names in a squad that won the Dutch title last season and is playing in the Champions League this year. For KV Mechelen, it would be an investment in the future, acquiring a player with first-team experience in England and room to develop.
The reported fee of around 1 million euros would be a significant outlay for the club, but for a talent with a long contract and growth potential. It is not yet clear whether talks between the clubs and the player lead to an agreement.
The immediate focus is the next league fixture. KV Mechelen hosts KVC Westerlo, currently 16th in the table, in an important home match on Saturday, September 5th. All schedule information can be found on our fixtures page. Parallel to that, the search for reinforcements continues, with the pursuit of Sol Sidibé serving as a concrete example. The coming days will be key to see if this interest translates into an official offer and negotiations with PSV Eindhoven.
