The potential future of the Manchester City defence is quietly going about his work at OGC Nice | OneFootball

Young centre-back Juma Bah figures to be a prominent player in the future for Manchester City. Bah is blessed with all of the physical attributes to one day become an elite defender in the Premier League. He also has all of the defensive skills and necessary traits in possession to become a centre-back in a Pep Guardiola team. Juma Bah is currently on loan at Ligue One side OGC Nice for the 25/26 season. He has made a strong start to the new campaign. Bah has shown all of the necessary attributes that could see him earmarked as the potential future of the Manchester City defence.

Juma Bah has picked up where he left off last season with OGC Nice.

Young centre-back Juma Bah has had a meteoric rise as a player. He impressed in La Liga with Real Valladolid last season. His strong performances in Spain saw him signed by Manchester City last January. Juma Bah subsequently spent the second half of last season on loan at Lens. Bah did enough at Lens to show he could become an elite centre-back in time. He joined Nice on loan for this season to further aid his development. The 25/26 season is only in its infancy, but Juma Bah has made a strong start to the new season at OGC Nice.

Juma Bah has made five appearances in all competitions for Nice. In those appearances, he has shown he is ready to play and contribute at such a high level. That was already known after Bah’s impressive displays last season. It was hoped that Juma Bah would take it up a gear as a player this season. The early indications are that he has.

Playing in a back three for Nice, Bah has looked like a defensive leader for the Ligue One outfit. He has settled in well into his new team’s defensive system. The physicality of Juma Bah does stand out in his play. The young defender is only 19 years of age, so the physical maturity in his play is impressive. But that only tells part of the story. Standing at 195 cm, Bah has the neccesary physical attributes to be a powerful centre-back.

Juma Bah is strong in a challenge and in the air. That has stood out in his play this season. He reads the game exceptionally well. That is a skill that cannot be taught. The fact that Juma Bah is already showing a strong sense of how to read a game at such a young age is impressive. Aerially, Bah is one of the better young defenders around. He matches that ability with his strength and timing in a challenge. Juma Bah showed all of these traits last season. The early indications are that he has grown as a player over the summer.

In possession, Juma Bah looks to be a Manchester City-type of centre-back. He isn’t a defence-splitting passer of the ball, but he is more than competent and should fit the mould of a City defender.

Manchester City will be keen to see Juma Bah build on his impressive start to this season

Juma Bah has made an impressive start to the new season with Nice. From a Manchester City point of view, they’ll be hoping that he can build on his promising beginning to the 25/26 season. Looking ahead to the end of this season, the potential that John Stones or Nathan Ake, or both, will leave the club is very real. There may be an opening or two at centre-back in Pep Guardiola’s squad next season. If Juma Bah can build upon his impressive start to the 25/26 season and continue to grow as a player, he could force his way into that role next season at City. That is a long way away, but everything shown by Juma Bah indicates that he could be the future of Manchester City’s defence.