News from last week that we had overlooked, but should be mentioned nonetheless, since Mohamed Sankoh had a trial with Chelsea back in late April and had been expected to sign with the Blues shortly after.
But that never happened, and the 16-year-old striker has instead gone to Germany, signing a 5-year contract with newly-promoted Bundesliga side, VfB Stuttgart. Sankoh, a Dutch U17 international who had been with Stoke City for the last couple years after leaving boyhood club Sparta Rotterdam, has joined up with Stuttgart’s U19 side, though given his talent, he probably will rise quickly up the ranks.
Von @stokecity wechselt der niederländische U18-Nationalstürmer und U17-Europameister Mohamed Sankoh ins NLZ. Der 16-Jährige hat einen langfristigen Vertrag unterschrieben und steigt heute ins Training der #VfBU19 ein.
— VfB Nachwuchs (@jungundwild) August 8, 2020
Welcome to Stuttgart, Mo!#jungundwild pic.twitter.com/NNydGSwZiO
As the why Sankoh didn’t stick with Chelsea, no one really knows. Some reports paint it as Chelsea’s decision — i.e. he had failed to impress — though it’s much more likely that the player himself decided to go with what he believed to be a more advantageous situation for his own career. Chelsea’s Academy are stock full of excellent talent already, and the first-team is very young, which will make the pathway harder to the upcoming generation.
Stuttgart have paid €150,000 to Stoke City as FIFA-mandated training compensation.
Good luck in Germany, Mohamed! Perhaps our paths will cross again in the future.
DEAL IS OFF ❌
— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) August 4, 2020
Chelsea have decided over the past 3 days not to take an option on Sankoh.
Source close to TSS state ‘we feel we have enough similar quality already in that position’
Sankoh is flying to Germany, he is expected to join up with Stuttgart pic.twitter.com/tmTbkqpCUp