Category: Players Abroad News

Sierra Leone fasting growing digital football website is passionately on all topics of National and International news, identifying our soccer stars.

Defender Abraham Kanu signs new Reading deal
by FSL News

Defender Abraham Kanu signs new Reading deal

Young defender Abraham Kanu has officially signed a fresh one-year contract, thereby confirming his commitment to the Royals.

Kanu was rewarded following a significant season in which he made 16 appearances for the First Team during the 2024/25 season.

At only 19, Kanu showed his club-level potential and won global acclaim representing the Sierra Leone Under-20 team at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations.

His outstanding performances helped the team to make their way to the Quarter Finals, when they came up against Morocco in a tough match and narrowly lost.

Kanu’s performance in this elite tournament highlights his development and holds forth an amazing future for both him and the Royals.

He was part of the Sierra Leone U20 African Cup of Nations side, where he played against South Africa.

Sierra Leone's native Jaze Kabia happy with Grimsby Town move
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone native Jaze Kabia happy with Grimsby Town move

Following signing for English League Two team Grimsby Town on a two-year contract from Truro City, Sierra Leonean native Jaze Kabia is happy.

Following a highly contested National League South season that ended with Truro City winning the title on the final day, the 24-year-old forward joins the Mariners in North East Lincolnshire.

Kabia signed with Truro and in 44 games scored 17 goals and delivered 11 assists to make a big difference last summer. He is now a member of David Artell’s team.

“Absolutely buzzing to be at this massive club. Looking forward to the journey ahead, Mariners @officialgtfc,” Kabia noted on X.

Originally from Ireland, Kabia rose through the ranks at Cobh Ramblers and made his senior debut there. Later on he moved to Shelbourne, where he scored on his first appearance and helped the team win the League of Ireland First Division crown.

Kabia moved to Scotland at the age of 22 and got Premiership experience with Livingston. His debut came against Celtic, and he gained priceless game time through various loan spells.

“We have a bright, young player who we believe has a great chance to make a major impact in league football,” said David Artell of his fresh recruit. Last season, he was involved in a successful endeavour; he is aware of the means to advance.

We look forward to him joining the team and hope he will score several goals for us.

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1940660007093391809

Kumba set to play UEFA Women's Champions League with Riga
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kumba set to play UEFA Women’s Champions League with Riga

Kumba Zainab Brima has joined FC Riga’s women’s premier side on a two-year deal ahead of the new campaign and is set to compete in the UEFA Women’s Champions League next month.

FC Riga will be participating in this year’s Women’s UEFA Champions League, providing a great platform for the Sierra Leonean international to showcase her style and skills on the biggest stage.

The UEFA Women’s Champions League first and second qualifying round draws have been made to begin the new-look competition.

Riga’s ladies begin against Estonia side Tallinna FC Flora (EST) vs Riga FC Women (LVA) next month.

The club announced her signing via their social media pages, making her the first player from Sierra Leone to join them.

Known by her nickname, “Pele,” Kumba has been a standout player since arriving at the local club FC Kallon.

Steven Caulker pens player and coach deal with Stjarnan in Iceland
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker pens player and coach deal with Stjarnan in Iceland

Former Sierra Leone international Steven Caulker has signed a deal as both a player and assistant coach with Icelandic top-tier club Stjarnan FC.

“We are proud and honoured to announce that Steven Caulker has joined Stjarnan, taking on a dual role as player-assistant coach for the men’s first team,” the Iceland top-tier side noted.

Steven Caulker has had a successful career in football. He has played over 150 matches in the English Premier League for teams like Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, QPR, and Southampton.

He has also played for the England national team and later led Sierra Leone as captain in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Recently, Steven continued his career in Turkey, playing for Alanyaspor, Fenerbahçe, and Fatih Karagümrük, where he was an important player and a leader.

Most recently, he made 33 appearances for Ankara Keçiörengücü SK in the Turkish First League.

“We warmly welcome Steven Caulker to Stjarnan and believe our community will make him feel at home in Garðabær.”

Sierra Leone's Tyrese Fornah pens permanent Northampton Town
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Tyrese Fornah pens permanent Northampton Town deal

Northampton Town has signed Tyrese Fornah, a former midfielder for Nottingham Forest and Derby County, on a three-year contract.

The 25-year-old player, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall and was born in London, started his career at the academies of Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion. He made his professional debut for Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup match against Chelsea in 2020.

Fornah spent time on loan with Portuguese side Casa Oia and then joined Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan in October 2020, making 39 appearances.

He went on to have loan spells at Shrewsbury Town, where he played 19 games, and Reading, where he played 35 games. In 2023, he transferred to Derby County for an undisclosed fee. Fornah made 23 appearances in the 2023/24 season, helping the Rams win promotion from League One. He then spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Salford City, where he played 43 times.

Manager Kevin Nolan said, “We have followed Tyrese for a long time and wanted to bring him in. We did a lot of research and believe he will work well with Dean Campbell. He can play as a defensive midfielder or advance further up the pitch. He has great skills for carrying the ball and moving the team forward.”

Nolan added, “We discussed how we can help him improve, especially in scoring goals, and he was open to that. We are happy with this signing. Tyrese is at a good age with a strong background, and I believe fans will enjoy watching him play for Northampton Town. He had a lot of interest this summer, so it’s great that we’ve secured him for Sixfields.”

Juma Bah joins OGC Nice on loan after a six-month loan spell with RC Lens
by Football Sierra Leone

Juma Bah joins Nice on loan after a six-month spell with RC Lens

Sierra Leonean international Juma Bah has switched from RC Lens to OGC Nice on loan from Manchester City.

The 19-year-old has been a revelation since he entered professional football in Spain.

Following the signing of Gabin Bernardeau, OGC Nice has made a second acquisition at the start of the transfer window.

Bah, a 1.95m defensive player well-known to Ligue 1 fans, has played in France for the past six months.

“We have been following his progress collectively for a while and found him to be very effective during his time at Lens,” explains Florian Maurice, Sporting Director of Le Gym.

This is confirmed by the statistics. Juma is a young player with great potential, and importantly, we believe he can quickly adapt to the coach’s ideas.

He is coming to reinforce a sector that faced two significant injuries at the end of last season,” emphasises President Rivère. “There is a strong alignment between our project and his ambitions. Juma is joining the team at the beginning of the preparation, which is ideal for his quick integration and ability to perform effectively.”

Juma Bah in stats

Here are Juma Bah’s Ligue 1 stats for the second half of the 2024/25 season: 

  • 8 starts, 2 substitute appearances, 685 minutes of playing time
  •  1st in xDef (our in-house defensive indicator)
  • 4th in % of successful passes under pressure
  •  1st in % of successful long passes
  • 1st in % aerial duels won
  • 2nd best performer in duels overall
  • 1st who allows his team to recover the most balls per 90 minutes, thanks to his pressing
  • 5th with the most interceptions per 90 minutes
  • 4th with the most defensive clearances per 90 minutes

 

 

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1937946705044885591

Attacker Mustapha Bundu set to join Bundesliga 2 side
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Attacker Mustapha Bundu set to join Bundesliga 2 side

Mustapha Bundu has officially turned down Argyle’s proposal for a new contract and is set to join a club in the 2. Bundesliga, as confirmed by the English side.

Although they did not confirm the name of the club, it is certain Bundu’s next action will be in the German second tier.

The Sierra Leone forward made a notable entrance to Argyle on Deadline Day during the summer transfer window of 2023. Throughout his tenure with the Pilgrims, Bundu made a significant impact, appearing in 70 matches and netting 14 goals.

One of his standout performances came in April 2024, when he scored a crucial winner against Leicester City, a goal that played an instrumental role in ensuring Argyle’s survival in the league that season.

Forward Augustine Williams scores as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds triumph over the Rowdies
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Forward Augustine Williams scores as Pittsburgh Riverhounds triumph over the Rowdies

Sierra Leone international Augustine Williams scored his second goal of the season as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds secured a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies at the hot and humid Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

The scoring began with an own goal by former Hounds defender Thomas Vancaeyezeele, followed shortly by Augi Williams, who headed in a goal to put the Hounds (5-6-2) two goals ahead.

Manuel Arteaga managed to pull one back for the Rowdies (2-9-2) just five minutes before halftime, but the Hounds held on to secure their second straight home win.

The Hounds started aggressively, with Luke Biasi and Robbie Mertz testing Rowdies keeper Ethan Bandré. They took the lead in the 15th minute due to an own goal from Vancaeyezeele and added a second five minutes later with a header from Williams.

Arteaga’s goal for the Rowdies followed a clever setup, but Hounds goalie Eric Dick’s key save against Blake Bodily kept the Hounds ahead. Jackson Walti nearly extended the lead late, but his shot was deflected.

Luke Biasi, the Modelo Man of the Match, assisted on Williams’ goal and contributed defensively.

Up next, the Hounds will host Westchester SC in the USL Jägermeister Cup at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, marking the first meeting between the two teams.

Defender Osman Turay pens Bayer 04 Leverkusen from FC Schalke 04
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Osman Turay pens Bayer 04 Leverkusen deal from FC Schalke 04

Bayer Leverkusen has made an exciting addition to their A-Junior team by signing 17-year-old left-back Osman Turay from FC Schalke 04. This talented young player is set to enhance the squad under the guidance of coach Sergi Runge.

The German U-17 international joins Leverkusen free of charge, making it a savvy move as the club aims to bolster its status in youth football.

Sporting director Simon Rolfes expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Osman Turay’s ambitions match perfectly with our objectives. We are committed to elevating our standing in youth football and reinstating Bayer 04 as a premier destination in German football.”

Football director Kim Falkenberg also commended Turay’s remarkable abilities, saying, “Osman has emerged as one of the standout players in his age group. We’re excited that he has chosen to continue his promising path with Bayer 04 Leverkusen.”

Turay is already acquainted with some of his new teammates. As the vice-captain of the German U-17 national team, he has played alongside Leverkusen’s Jeremiah Mensah, Nebe Domnic, and Ben Hawighorst. The four were last on the field together during a starting lineup against Portugal, where they faced a narrow 1-2 defeat, leading to Germany’s early exit from the European Championship in Albania.

In May, Turay faced Leverkusen while representing Schalke in the quarter-finals of the German A-Junior Championship. In a thrilling match, Leverkusen clinched victory 3-2 in a penalty shootout, ultimately making their way to the finals, where they just fell short, losing 4-5 to 1. FC Köln.

New Cambridge United two-year deal for Sullay Kaikai
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Cambridge United two-year deal for Sullay Kaikai

Cambridge United has announced that Sullay Kaikai has officially signed a new two-year contract with the club.

The 29-year-old winger, who has made an impressive 102 appearances for the U’s, has agreed to terms that will keep him with the team until 2027.

Originally a loan in 2014 with Crystal Palace, he rejoined United in 2023 after stints elsewhere with NEC Brada, Blackpool, Wycombe Wanderers and MK Dons.

Sullay Kaikai stated, “I’m pleased and eager to prolong my Cambridge trip.” Expressing the course the Head Coach and Club have indicated, I am quite eager to assist. There is a sense of hope around the place, and I’m excited about this next chapter at the Club.”

Neil Harris expressed his happiness about Sullay’s contract extension, noting that working with the new sports science team will benefit him. “When he’s fit, defenders in League Two will find him a handful. His performances have been impressive; he adds versatility on the wings and can also play as a striker.”