Sierra Leone’s Juma Bah Joins OGC Nice on Loan from Manchester City

French football club, OGC Nice have confirmed the signing of rising Sierra Leonean defender Juma Bah on a season-long loan from English giants Manchester City, marking their second acquisition of the summer transfer window.

At just 19, Bah is already making waves across Europe. The towering 1.95m centre-back arrives in Nice with a growing reputation, following an impressive stint at RC Lens during the second half of last season. He joins fellow newcomer Gabin Bernardeau in strengthening Le Gym’s squad as they prepare for the upcoming Ligue 1 campaign.

“We’ve been monitoring Juma’s progress for some time,” said Florian Maurice, OGC Nice’s sporting director.

“He performed very well during his time at Lens. The data backs that up. He’s young, full of potential, and we believe he’ll quickly adapt to the manager’s style of play.”

Sierra Leone's Juma Bah Joins French Club OGC Nice on Loan

Juma Bah / OGC Nice Facebook

The Club’s president Jean-Pierre Rivère emphasized the strategic importance of Bah’s arrival, noting,

“We suffered two major injuries in defense at the end of last season. Juma comes in at the right time, and there’s a clear alignment between our project and his career ambitions. Having him here from the start of pre-season will help his integration.”

Bah, a full international for Sierra Leone with two caps, first rose to prominence in La Liga with Real Valladolid, where his dominant performances caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs. He made a high-profile move to Manchester City in January 2025 before being loaned to Lens to continue his development.

Now in familiar territory, the defender is looking forward to contributing at the Allianz Riviera.

“I know this team and the league well from my time at Lens,” said Bah.

“There’s quality and experience all over the pitch, and the coach has a very precise, attacking philosophy — even for defenders. That really appealed to me. I’m proud to be part of this project, and with big games coming early, it’s important we hit the ground running. I’m ready.”

As OGC Nice gear up for a challenging campaign, Bah’s arrival adds both youthful energy and defensive solidity to a side looking to climb higher in the Ligue 1 standings.

Juma Bah / OGC Nice Facebook

Fans React to Juma Bah’s Move to OGC Nice

Bah’s loan move to French side OGC Nice has sparked excitement among fans, especially back home in Sierra Leone, where supporters took to Facebook to express their pride and support for the young defender.

Abu Bakarr Jalloh proudly declared: “The Gladiator from Sierra Leone.”

Jimmy Scott shared his delight, posting: “Congratulations our very own .”

Saidu Babatunde Nicol wrote “Congratulations our pride! More growth.”

Ozzay King BOss–Fofanah added: “Juma Bah Congratulations bruh .”

Belhadji Godwin simply said: “JB28 .”

Ibrahim Kargbo commented: “Congratulations Juma.”