Abdulai Juma Bah emerged from Freetown as one of West Africa's most talked about defensive prospects, a profile now reflected in collector interest on Walkouts. Born in Freetown on 11 April 2006, Bah combined street football with helping his parents in their bakery, a background that shaped his physicality and reading of the game. His journey from local academy football to top level European leagues has been rapid, and each step has created provenance that collectors prize, from signed shirts to authenticated autographs.
Bah's early career began after he was noticed by agent Chernor Musa Jalloh while playing for Freetown Giant Academy, leading to a move to AIK Freetong in April 2021. He gained competitive experience on loan with Freetonians SLIFA in the Sierra Leone National Premier League from 2022, where he spent two seasons and captained the side during the 2023-24 campaign. That leadership role is a clear factual milestone for provenance, often cited on match tickets and authenticated memorabilia related to his domestic career.
Bah's breakthrough in Europe came on 26 August 2024 when he joined Real Valladolid on a one year loan, initially assigned to the reserve side. He made a swift transition to senior football, and on 21 September 2024 he started in a 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad, making his La Liga debut and becoming the first Sierra Leonean to appear in the Spanish top tier. That appearance is a key provenance marker for collectors seeking match-worn items or signed game programmes from milestone fixtures.
In January 2025 a contractual resolution led to Bah being registered by Manchester City on 27 January 2025, with the club arranging a loan move to RC Lens shortly afterwards. Later that year he moved on loan to Nice for the 2025-26 season, where he continues his development in Ligue 1. Each loan and registration generates distinct documentation, creating layers of provenance that are valuable for authenticators and collectors of signed shirts and memorabilia.
On the international stage Bah received his first senior call-up to the Sierra Leone national team on 28 May 2024, for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. Early international appearances add an important dimension to collector appeal, as items tied to national team milestones carry different provenance tokens and are often accompanied by federation documentation.
To date Bah has not collected major senior trophies, but his rapid ascent, first team minutes in La Liga, and subsequent moves to leading European clubs are factual elements that enhance the story behind collectibles such as match-worn jerseys, authenticated autographs, and limited edition merchandise. Collectors value confirmed provenance, including match reports, registration documents, and certified signatures, all of which are available for many of his most notable fixtures.
For memorabilia focused buyers, Bah represents a player whose early career milestones are well documented, from his captaincy at Freetonians SLIFA to his La Liga debut with Real Valladolid and subsequent registrations with Manchester City and loans to RC Lens and Nice. Provenance links such items directly to moments in his trajectory, enhancing their collectible narrative.
As Bah's career progresses, his authenticated signed shirts and verified autographs will remain of interest to fans and collectors who prioritise clear provenance and documented milestones. His story is already beginning to form a collectible profile that Walkouts recognises, and authenticated memorabilia from his early European appearances will be important pieces in that legacy.
