Santa Lucia FC sign highly-rated Togo international Ayefouni Basile

Santa Lucia FC continued to bolster their squad for the remainder of the season when they reached an agreement to sign Togo-born defender Ogouvide Ayefouni Basile.

The 20-year-old defender arrives at Santa Lucia from Swiss giants Young Boys and has put pen to paper on an 18-month contract.

Ayefouni Basile is a player that has shown a lot of promise since joining the youth ranks of Young Boys and has been a regular member of the team in their youth teams.

This season he has been a key player for their U-21 team, making 14 appearances in the Swiss Promotion League.

Ayefouni Basile, who holds also Swiss citizenship, has impressed the Swiss youth national team coaches so much so that he represented Switzerland both at U-18 and U-19 level.

Last year, Ayefouni Basile decided to represent his country Togo, and featured for their U-23 national team.

Ayefouni Basile becomes the fourth signing of Santa Lucia who have been very active during the January transfer window in a bid to revive their fortunes after a difficult start to the campaign which saw them battle for relegation.

The club have worked hard in the past weeks to provide more depth and options to coach Alessandro Zinnari as they signed winger Santiago Moracci, midfielder Daniel Letherby, and winger Aleksa Mrdja.

Santa Lucia have shown remarkable improvements as back-to-back victories over Gżira United and Birkirkara have earned the team valuable points that lifted them just two points adrift of safety.

Ayefouni Basile is expected to make his debut for Santa Lucia on Saturday when the Saints face Premier League leaders Floriana at the National Stadium.