Posted in: 25/07/2022 – 21:00Last updated: 25/07/2022 – 20:58
London (AFP) – Southampton Football Club has officially announced the signing of French striker Sekou Mara from Bordeaux in a deal worth 13 million euros, including bonuses, which will provide some cash for the French club, which is struggling to stay in the second division.
The 19-year-old has signed a 4-year contract with Southampton and still needs to obtain a work permit.
And the two clubs announced last week that a preliminary agreement had been reached, while Bordeaux was before the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, which issued a positive decision regarding his participation in the second division competitions.
Bordeaux, which suffers from financial difficulties following being relegated to the second division at the end of last season by occupying the bottom of the standings, faced the intransigence of the National Administrative Control Department, which is the financial police of French football, twice in favor of relegating it to the third division.
However, the last word in this case will be for the Executive Committee of the French Football Federation, which has until the 30th of this month, the date for the resumption of the second-tier competitions, to decide on the case.
Mara, a former Paris Saint-Germain player before his 2017 move to Bordeaux, scored 6 goals in 26 matches he played in Ligue 1 last season.
“He is a young player who will need time to adapt to a new country and a new league, but we are looking forward to his potential and what he can become in the future,” warned Southampton new coach Ralph Hasenhuttl.
For his part, the youth international striker said he was “very happy” to join the Southern England club.
“I am young and I will have to work. I think Southampton is the best club for my development, for my progress and for becoming one of the best.”
© 2022 AFP
