Nice announced on Wednesday that 19-year-old Sierra Leonean central defender Juma Ba has been loaned from Manchester City. His lease at Nice ends in June 2026, and there is no buyout clause in the contract.

Juma Ba was born in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, in 2006. He went to Spain in August 2024 on the recommendation of Valladolid scout Pacho Martinez. He was initially assigned to the Valladolid reserve team and made his debut in La Liga for the first team on September 21, 2024.

In January 2025, Juma Ba transferred from Valladolid to Manchester City for 6 million euros. He was then loaned to Lens by Manchester City and played a total of 10 Ligue 1 games in half a year.

Regarding the joining of Juma Ba, Nice sports director Florian Maurice explained: "We have been following Juma's growth, and he has performed very well in Lens. The data also proves his value."

"Juma is a young player with great potential. More importantly, we think he can quickly adapt to the coach's tactical philosophy."

Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivelle added: "He will fill the gap in our defence caused by the injuries to two key players at the end of last season. Our project is highly aligned with his personal ambitions. Juma will join the team at the beginning of pre-season, which will help him integrate quickly and perform well."

Juma Bazé said: "Nice is a team I am very familiar with during my time in Ligue 1. There are experienced and strong players in all positions. The coach has a very clear offensive philosophy and all the players strictly implement it, including the defenders. This is one of the important factors in my decision to join."

“I am proud to join Nice and its project. We have some crucial games coming up at the beginning of the summer. The new season is going to be exciting. I and the whole team must be ready for the challenges that lie ahead.”