KV Mechelen loan Wassim Lantaki to Helmond Sport for development

KV Mechelen has loaned left-back Wassim Lantaki to Helmond Sport. The 22-year-old defender, who trained at Lille and Anderlecht as a youth, will gain more playing time in the Dutch second tier after failing to secure a starting spot at KV Mechelen. The club currently sits sixth in the Jupiler Pro League with 24 points from 32 games, recent form LDLWL, and continues to search for a consistent role for the flank defender.

KV Mechelen has officially confirmed that Wassim Lantaki will join Helmond Sport on loan. The left-back, who could not break into the Mechelen first team last season, will spend the campaign in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. Helmond Sport’s technical manager Dirk Jan Derksen praised the signing: "Wassim is a left-back with excellent stamina and pace. He fits our style perfectly with his constant threat in the opponent’s half," Derksen said.

For KV Mechelen, the loan is a logical step in Lantaki’s development. The club could not offer him a regular starting berth, despite his experience with Belgian and Moroccan youth national teams. By sending him out on loan, Mechelen frees up wage space while giving him a chance to prove himself elsewhere. Last season, the club scored 40 goals but conceded 39, finishing with a +1 goal difference, and continues to seek defensive stability.

The defender is eager for his new challenge. "I’m really looking forward to joining Helmond Sport. I want to develop further, get plenty of minutes, and contribute with my effort and quality to the team. Together we’ll make this a successful season," Lantaki said. At Helmond Sport, he aims to play every match and take the next step in his career.

Helmond Sport sees Lantaki as a reinforcement aligned with their style. The Dutch second-tier side, which finished 15 points behind Union St. Gilloise last season, hopes the arrival of the young left-back will bring more defensive solidity. The Keuken Kampioen Divisie offers Lantaki the platform to stand out, with an eye on a possible return to Belgian top-flight football after the campaign.