Lecce sign Ali Dembélé from Torino on loan with option to buy

Lecce have completed the signing of Ali Dembélé from Torino, adding a young right-sided defensive option before the close of the transfer window.

The move has been officially confirmed by Torino, who announced that Dembélé has joined Lecce on loan with an option to buy. Lecce’s own statement described the deal in the same terms and confirmed that the French wide defender will wear the No.2 shirt.

For Lecce, the transfer completes a specific squad need rather than simply adding depth. Local reports in Salento had framed Dembélé as the defensive wide player required to cover and compete on the right side, giving Eusebio Di Francesco another option in a role that had remained open through the final part of the market.

Dembélé, born in 2004, leaves Torino temporarily after struggling to establish a fixed first-team role with the Granata. The move keeps him in Serie A but gives him a clearer path to minutes at a club where his pace and defensive width can be used more regularly.

The structure also suits Torino. A loan with an option allows the club to retain some control over the player’s future while giving Lecce the chance to turn the move permanent if Dembélé settles quickly and earns a regular place.

For Lecce, the value is immediate flexibility. Dembélé can strengthen the full-back group without requiring a major permanent commitment upfront, while his age gives the move longer-term upside if the option becomes attractive later in the season.

The signing is official, but its importance will be measured by how quickly Dembélé can become part of Lecce’s defensive rotation. With the window closing, Lecce have at least filled one of the squad gaps they had carried into the final days of the market.