Official: Clinton Mola signs for VfB Stuttgart on a permanent deal

In addition to Tariq Lamptey, Cobham has lost yet another highly-rated talent in 18-year-old Clinton Mola, whose contract with Chelsea was due to run out in the summer of 2020.

Mola is capable of playing in central midfield as well as centre-back, although Stuttgart have described him as a midfielder. They’ve also handed him the shirt number 6; some might say these things hold no value but in any squad, that’s a ‘significant’ number allocation. He’s signed a four-and-a-half year deal at the currently third-placed 2. Bundesliga club and may well be part of their succession plan to Santiago Ascascibar who recently departed for Hertha Berlin.

Foreign clubs are waking up to the talent available in England, where the pathway for young players at Premier League clubs is a difficult one and Stuttgart would’ve no doubt, been one among many suitors for Mola’s signature.

The words of their Sporting Director, Sven Mislintat (remember him?) seem to convey that they’ll be counting on Mola to make a difference sooner rather than later.

“We are very happy and proud that Clinton chose us with his perspective and quality. It is far from self-evident that we, as the current second division club, have won the race for a player that is very popular in the market. We believe that Clinton will find his way around Germany very quickly and will help us to achieve our goals in the short and medium term.”

- Sven Mislintat; source: VfB Stuttgart Twitter

Good luck, Clinton, perhaps our paths will cross again!