Pogoń Szczecin gave Cheick Doumbia a trial run in their friendly against Warta Poznań, with the 22-year-old left-back starting in the number 55 shirt. He is under contract at Rodez in France's Ligue 2, and Pogoń are using the international break to see whether he fits a side that is still near the top of the Ekstraklasa.
Pogoń's left-back search
The club's own update said Doumbia would appear in today's match with the consent of his current club. It also described him as a 22-year-old with French and Malian passports, and noted that he has played for the youth national teams of both countries.
That trial has come at a useful time for Pogoń Szczecin. They were fourth in the Ekstraklasa after 14 rounds with 24 points, and the squad has had to deal with Benjamin Mendy being ruled out for a longer period because of injury.
What Pogoń are looking at
Doumbia's recent club minutes are modest, which is why this looks like an audition rather than a finished deal. One source says he made three Ligue 2 appearances for Rodez in the 2024/2025 season, while another notes four reserve appearances this season.
Either way, Pogoń are not taking a blind leap. They have a left-back problem to solve, and the friendly gave them a first chance to see Doumbia against senior opposition in their own environment.
The test is still only a test, but it is a real one. Pogoń come back from the break with a clearer idea of whether Doumbia can offer cover on the left side, and they have already put him in a shirt and into a match against Warta Poznań.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
