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It is an understatement to say that the departure of Kodir Khusanov is not good sporting news for Will Still. Certainly, his lucrative sale will allow the Sang et Or to replenish very empty coffers, but it will weaken one of the best defenses in Ligue 1. If the future of Kevin Danso and Jonathan Gradit is still uncertain until 3 February and the date of the end of the winter transfer window, Lens must anticipate a departure of one or the other. The only problem is that Lens' finances don't allow for crazy things.
No matter, Pierre Dréossi and Diego Lopez will take advantage of the good relations established with Manchester City to complete the arrival of a promising defender at a lower cost. As revealed overnight by Fabrizio Romano, an astonishing deal is about to be completed between Valladolid, Manchester City and therefore the French club. The very promising central defender Juma Bah (18 years old) is about to be bought this winter by Manchester City as we can confirm.
From Freetown, to Valladolid via Manchester City and… RC Lens
Arriving last summer in Valladolid in La Liga from Sierra Leone and more precisely from AIK Freetong, Bah, who was to play for a few months in the club's reserve in the fourth division, quickly established himself through his tactical maturity and an impressive physique that stands out in Spain. Established for the first time in the Valladolid eleven from the 6th day of the championship, this right-hander played 11 championship matches, 8 of them starting. And his stats already speak for him since he is already one of the defenders aged 20 or under who wins the most defensive duels in Europe with… Khusanov in particular.
Certainly, the young Sierra Leonean international (called up in 2023, but not entered into play) has enormous room for improvement and a few flaws to overcome for his young age. But his profile appealed to Manchester City, who won the bid and recruited him from Valladolid for a few million euros… before undoubtedly loaning him to Lens for six months. Although there are still many details to be resolved, the operation is underway and could ultimately satisfy everyone. Manchester City could see their future recruit have relative playing time in the North of France and the player could continue his progression in a higher European club in Valladolid, current bottom of La Liga. To be continued.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
