Herve Koffi Joins Union St Gilloise on Loan from Lens
Union St Gilloise have moved quickly to plug the gap left by Kjell Scherpen’s departure to Ipswich Town and the Premier League, turning to a familiar face in Belgian football. Herve Koffi, out of favour at Lens, is set to arrive in Brussels on loan, according to LDH.
It’s a smart, targeted move. Union lose height and presence in Scherpen, but they gain a goalkeeper who already knows every corner of the Belgian Pro League.
From Angers standout to Lens understudy
Koffi spent last season on loan at Angers, where he emerged as one of Ligue 1’s standout goalkeepers. Shot-stopping, command of his box, consistency across the campaign – his performances pushed Angers into the conversation every week, even when they were under pressure.
Back at Lens, the momentum stalled. Since joining the club in 2024, Koffi has barely featured, stuck behind established options and watching his minutes evaporate. For a 27-year-old international goalkeeper, that’s not a long-term plan.
Union offer exactly what he needs: games, responsibility, and a platform ahead of a crucial year with Burkina Faso, who are chasing qualification for another Africa Cup of Nations next summer.
A career built on steady climbs
Koffi’s path has never been the glamorous shortcut. It has been a steady climb.
He came through at ASEC Mimosas in Côte d'Ivoire, a factory of West African talent and a club that has sent players across Europe for decades. In 2017, he made the jump to Lille. First-team chances were limited – just six senior appearances – but it was enough to plant him on the European map.
The real breakthrough came in Belgium. During the 2020/21 season, Koffi joined Royal Excel Mouscron, then linked to Lille through ownership. In a struggling side, he stood out. Thirty-four appearances, constant work under fire, and a reputation built on resilience rather than comfort.
Charleroi moved quickly in the summer of 2021. Over three seasons and 96 games for the Zebras, Koffi became one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the Belgian Pro League. Strong in one-on-ones, aggressive off his line, vocal behind a back line that often needed organisation – he was a key figure before his move to France.
Why Union need him now
Union’s rise has been built on sharp recruitment and an eye for players who fit their system rather than just their profile. In Koffi, they are not gambling on potential. They are bringing in a goalkeeper who has already proved he can handle the pace, physicality and tactical variety of Belgian football.
He knows the stadiums, the strikers, the winter pitches. He has already shown he can be one of the best in this league.
For Union, he offers exactly what they need after Scherpen’s exit: a reliable shot-stopper, calm under pressure, and immediately ready to start. For Koffi, it is a return to a league where he once excelled, with the added incentive of securing his place as Burkina Faso’s No. 1 heading into another AFCON campaign.
Both club and player know what is at stake. Now it’s over to Koffi to turn a loan move into another defining chapter of his career.
