Sierra Leonean defender Abdulai Juma Bah has arrived in Manchester as he prepares to join Manchester City’s pre-season squad, with manager Enzo Maresca set to assess the 20-year-old before deciding his immediate future.

The centre-back, who spent the 2025-26 season on loan at French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, will be given the opportunity to impress during pre-season training.

Bah made 41 appearances across all competitions for Nice last season, playing over 3,100 minutes in a campaign that saw the club battle relegation before securing survival via the promotion/relegation play-off.

Born in Freetown on 11 April 2006, Bah began his career at AIK Freetong before rising to prominence during a loan spell at Real Valladolid in La Liga, where he became the first Sierra Leonean to play in Spain’s top tier. He joined Manchester City in January 2025 after activating his release clause, and was immediately loaned to Lens, where he made 10 Ligue 1 appearances.

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The 6ft 5in defender has also earned seven caps for the Sierra Leone national team, scoring one goal. He is represented by agents Dennis Monk and Chernor Musa Jalloh.

Maresca, who took charge of Manchester City earlier this year, wants to evaluate Bah’s progress during pre-season before deciding whether to integrate him into the first-team squad or send him out on another loan . A further loan spell, potentially in France or at an English club, remains a likely option.