Bah and Echeverri set to leave Man City on deadline day as fringe pair find new clubs

Manchester City are finalising the departures of two fringe players on deadline day, with defender Juma Bah set to join Augsburg and playmaker Claudio Echeverri closing in on a move to Benfica.

Bah, 20, will head to the Bundesliga side on an initial loan deal, with Augsburg holding an option to make the transfer permanent next summer for a fee believed to be around £18.5 million. The centre-back joined City in 2025 for approximately £7 million from Real Valladolid — a move that drew accusations from the Spanish club that City had encouraged the then-18-year-old to activate his release clause. Having spent the past two seasons on loan in France with Lens and Nice, Bah is under contract at the Etihad until 2031 and has represented Sierra Leone at international level.

Echeverri’s situation is more complex. The Argentine playmaker has attracted interest from Benfica, with the two clubs in discussions over an initial loan that could include a purchase option. Benfica face competition from clubs in England and Europe, but the Portuguese side — who are in the Europa League this season — are understood to be leading the chase.

Echeverri, who joined City from River Plate in 2023 to considerable fanfare, has made just three appearances for the club. He briefly caught the eye when introduced as a substitute in the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace and scored a fine goal against Al Ain at the Club World Cup before injury cut short his tournament. Last season he spent time on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, where he barely featured, and then at Girona, who were relegated. He is not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans and remains under contract until 2028.

The double exit comes as City pursue bigger business elsewhere in the window, having agreed a £65 million deal with Everton for Iliman Ndiaye — with Jack Grealish moving to Goodison Park on loan — and working on a club-record move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.