23/01/2025
Full breakdown on Juma Bah’s transfer saga - courtesy of Ibrahim Sorious Samura.
Real Valladolid signed Juma Bah to their 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 on a loan deal from Sierra Leonean club AIK Freetong. The club issued him a youth license and paid €40,000 to AIK Freetong for a loan.
They later paid €125,000 on for a permanent deal, making it a total of €165,000 transfer fee to AIK Freetong.
Currently, Juma's contract with Real Valladolid is a youth contract and not a B-Team contract or a Senior contract. He reportedly earns €2,500 per week. Despite him establishing himself as a key player in the senior team, Valladolid didn’t upgrade his contract.
His performances caught the attention of several clubs with Man City leading the chase to sign him. City explored the possibility of signing him through his agent, Patrick Mork.
Per his 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 with Valladolid, the UEFA rules and Spanish FA regulations will require a fine and compensation fee of €6m for a youth player on contract.
If it was a B-Team contract, the fine or clause would have been €15m, then €30m, if it was a senior contract.
As a player on a 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 despite being a key player in the first team, Juma Bah informed Valladolid of his decision to leave. He went ahead and paid his 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 release compensation fee which is €6m to the Spanish FA.
City offered him a six-year deal and he will earn a much better salary.
Valladolid is now missing on cashing out big on the transfer because they were playing games by keeping him on a youth contract while using him mostly in the senior side.
Their failure to upgrade his contract has turned against them.