Lille set to beat Manchester City and Chelsea in transfer race for Angel Yondjo | OneFootball

Manchester City and Chelsea are both set to lose out in their respective chase for Cameroonian talent Angel Yondjo, according to new reports from France.

City’s pursuit of elite youth prospects and high-ceiling teenagers around the globe has remained relentless in recent seasons, whether through direct acquisition or through the wider City Football Group model.

The club’s interest in emerging African talents has also been well-documented in recent months, with the likes of Sierra Leone’s Juma Bah arriving from Real Valladolid, and Algeria’s Rayan Ait-Nouri joining from Wolves in a big-money agreement this summer.

Chelsea, similarly, have become a dominant force in the youth recruitment market since their change in ownership, securing a string of recent signings including Kendry Páez and Andrey Santos to prove their continued efforts to assemble a world-class core of young internationals.

Their reach now spans South America, Europe, and Africa — creating a direct clash with Manchester City in multiple transfer races, and Angel Yondjo has emerged as the latest name attracting attention from both English powerhouses.

The teenager has made waves in Cameroonian football through performances with EF Brasseries Du Cameroun, as well as the national Under-23 side. With several top clubs monitoring his situation, his next destination has been a topic of increasing speculation.

Now, according to the information of French newspaper L’Équipe, as translated and relayed by Get French Football News, Lille OSC are close to securing the signing of Cameroonian prospect Angel Yondjo from EF Brasseries Du Cameroun.

The 18-year-old’s club will receive around €2 million ahead of Yondjo completing a medical later this week and signing a contract in Frejch football that will keep him with Lille until at least the summer of 2030.

In the process of signing the Cameroon Under-23 international, it is further detailed that Lille have also fended off rival interest from multiple clubs across Europe, including from the likes of Stade Rennais, Olympique Lyonnais, AC Milan, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

Despite City’s reach and resources, the Premier League giants are often competing in a saturated market for youth talent, where clear pathways to senior minutes can heavily influence a player’s choice.

Lille’s track record of promoting young players into first-team football, and subsequently into major transfers, will have certainly been a factor in Yondjo’s decision, with the player only likely to thrive in Ligue 1 over the coming seasons.

Manchester City could well be one of the first clubs to revisit his development later on down the line, and scouting reports and interest never truly disappear. The missed opportunity will quickly be replaced by fresh targets, with business still expected in South American and European youth markets this summer.