Juma Bah Chooses OGC Nice for Season-Long Loan from Manchester City

Promising defender Juma Bah will join OGC Nice on loan from Manchester City for the 2025-26 season. He turned down interest from Olympique Lyon. The Sierra Leonean teenager aims to grow in Ligue 1 after impressing during a loan at RC Lens.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Juma Bah, 19, has agreed to a season-long loan to OGC Nice. Nice and Lyon pursued the Manchester City defender, but Bah chose Nice after considering proposals from both clubs. Bah joined City in January and quickly went on loan to RC Lens, where he played 10 Ligue 1 matches and made a solid impression. With City’s senior squad packed with established center-backs, another loan is seen as the best way for Bah to gain valuable first-team experience this year.

WHY THIS MOVE MATTERS

OGC Nice is reinforcing its defense after finishing 64th in Ligue 1 last season, and guaranteeing European football for next season. Bah’s arrival is part of the club’s plan to build on their strong campaign and tighten their defense. At Manchester City, first-team opportunities are scarce due to fierce competition from the likes of Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji. City recently signed two other young defenders, further limiting Bah’s pathway to the senior squad. Lyon, who finished just behind Nice last season, also wanted Bah to help their defense rebound from an inconsistent campaign, but missed out after his decision to move to the French Riviera.

WHAT NEXT FOR BAH AND THE CLUBS?

Juma Bah is expected to compete for regular minutes in Nice’s back line, providing youth and energy to a side eager to break into the top five. Manchester City will monitor Bah’s development, hoping regular football in France prepares him for future Premier League action or increases his market value. Meanwhile, Lyon will now look elsewhere to strengthen their own defense as preseason gets underway.