La Liga side Real Valladolid has accused Manchester City of encouraging their teenage defender Juma Bah to terminate his contract with the Spanish club, paving the way for a significantly cheaper transfer to the Premier League champions.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Valladolid expressed “great disappointment and indignation” over the player’s actions, claiming Manchester City and Bah’s agent orchestrated the move.

The Dispute

Bah, 18, informed Valladolid on Tuesday of his intention to terminate his contract, enabling City to sign him for a much lower fee than the Spanish club had hoped to receive.

Earlier that day, Manchester City had officially requested to open negotiations over a permanent deal for the Sierra Leonean defender.

However, Bah missed training on Wednesday, shortly after depositing the necessary amount with the Spanish Football Association to activate his contract termination.

Valladolid said in their statement:

“The club considers that Manchester City is behind the player’s decision and appears to have advised the player to take this route.”

“The decision has caused great disappointment and indignation.”

The Spanish club exercised a clause earlier this month to convert Bah’s season-long loan from Sierra Leonean club AIK Freetong into a permanent transfer.

However, Bah has yet to sign a senior contract with Valladolid, which would include a significantly higher release clause.

Valladolid’s Response

Valladolid announced their intention to take disciplinary action against the player and to pursue all available avenues to protect their interests.

The club also criticized the involvement of Manchester City and Bah’s representatives, describing their conduct as “unethical.”

“The club will do everything possible to defend its rights and protect its interests in this case,” the statement added.

A Broader Trend?

Bah’s potential move to Manchester City adds to the ongoing debate about the ethics of high-profile clubs leveraging legal loopholes to secure promising players at reduced costs.

Manchester City has yet to respond to Valladolid’s allegations.

Background on Juma Bah

Bah joined Valladolid on loan in 2023 and has impressed in the club’s youth setup.

The Spanish club had hoped to tie him down to a long-term senior contract, recognizing his potential to develop into a top-tier defender.

The unfolding situation places further scrutiny on Manchester City, who is currently undergoing hearing for their 115 charges at the court and has also faced similar criticism in the past.