English Premier League champions Manchester City are reportedly on the verge of signing highly-rated Sierra Leonean defender Juma Bah from Spanish club Real Valladolid.
The 19-year-old center-back, born in 2004, is considered a rising star in football, according to prominent sports journalist, Fabrizio Romano.
Romano revealed on social media that a verbal agreement has been reached between Manchester City’s parent company, City Football Group, and Valladolid.
“Verbal agreement done with City Group for Sierra Leone’s centre back considered a huge talent,” he stated.
The deal is expected to involve a loan move to French club RC Lens, a club with strong ties to City Group following the transfer of Abdukodir Khusanov.
While formalities are yet to be finalized, Romano teased that the iconic “here we go” announcement could be imminent, signaling the completion of the transfer.
Juma, 18, who was born in Sierra Leone, joined Real Valladolid on loan last summer from AIK Freetong. The Spanish club had intended for the defender to work his way through the youth ranks before making the step up to the first team, but that plan changed after his impressive LaLiga debut against Real Sociedad on June 21.
Valladolid recently exercised their option to sign him on a permanent basis and now City Group are working hard to add him to their ranks during the January transfer window.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Bah has made a notable impact in La Liga this season, becoming a regular starter for Valladolid with 12 appearances this season. His performances have attracted interest from several European clubs, including Inter Milan, Fenerbahce, Everton, and Crystal Palace. However, Manchester City’s proposal, which includes immediate loan experience, has been particularly appealing to the young defender.
This move aligns with Manchester City’s strategy of acquiring promising talents and providing them with development opportunities within their network of clubs. Formal steps are expected to follow, with an official announcement anticipated soon.
