Newly promoted VfB Stuttgart have beaten a whole host of clubs to sign teenage Dutch striker Mohamed Sankoh from English side Stoke City. The 16-year-old ‘wonderkid’ dubbed the ‘new Lukaku’ was being chased by Chelsea, Tottenham, Celtic and Atletico Madrid amongst others, but has opted to follow Jadon Sancho’s example and use the Bundesliga as the place to take his game to the next level.
So, who is the latest hot property to make his way to the German top-flight from via the academies of the UK?
Born in Sierra Leone, Sankoh now has joint Dutch citizenship and started out in the youth academy of Sparta Rotterdam. He scored eight goals in eight appearances for the U-17 side and two in two for the U-19 side before English side Stoke signed him and reunited him with his brother Adbul. He was part of the side that helped the Netherlands win the Under-17 European Championship last summer in Ireland.
So far with the Potteries club, he’s scored nine goals in nine games for the U-18 side while providing nine assists. He has even played in the U-23 side on eight occasions this season- remembering he is still only 16 years of age!
Comparisons have been drawn with Inter Milan’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku due to both his style, technique, and early physical attributes. The plan is to start Sankoh off in the A Junior under the guidance of coach Nico Willig before integrating him in the Regionalliga, before hopefully progressing to the first team and the Bundesliga.
Thomas Krucken, Stuttgart’s sporting director, said: “We are happy to be able to win Mo, a highly-gifted attacking talent, thanks to joint efforts from all those responsible for sports and to further promote his high development potential in the next few years.”
Stoke will be entitled to compensation because the player is under 24 years of age but would have been due to receive more if he had moved to another English club. Any fee could be based on future first-team appearances and achievements at his new club, but details are yet to be disclosed.
