Next million sum for VfL
©IMAGO
What had been brewing in the last few days is now perfect: VfL Bochum has said goodbye to midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko for France. The 28-year-old gets his move wish fulfilled and joins FC Nantes with immediate effect, where he has a contract until June 2028.
“Both clubs agreed not to disclose the amount of the transfer fee,” said the Bochum team. And took a clear stance on the departure of Sissoko, who apparently did not want to continue playing for VfL. “We at VfL live – perhaps even more than other clubs – primarily from team spirit and cohesion as well as from the mentality of giving everything for this great club. If someone doesn’t identify 100 percent with the VfL project, you have to find other ways. In the end, we found a solution that all sides can live with,” explained Simon Zoller, Bochum’s Director of Performance Licensing.
Managing director Ilja Kaenzig added: “As always, the principle applies: no one is bigger than the club. When Ibrahima Sissoko approached us again after last summer with his wish to move, we looked at alternatives and the club made the unanimous decision to fulfill this wish under certain conditions. These were met, so we are satisfied with the solution. We wish Ibu all the best for his future.”
VfL Bochum receives the next million-dollar transfer for Sissoko
According to the “WAZ”, the Bochum team will receive a transfer fee of around 2 million euros – including bonuses – which is more than the top summer sales of Tim Oermann (for 1.9 million euros to Bayer 04) and Moritz Broschinski (for 1.8 million euros to FC Basel) brought in. Sissoko came to Bochum from RC Strasbourg Alsace on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 with a market value of 6 million euros. He was able to keep this until he moved to the 2nd Bundesliga and was the most valuable player in the league until the updates in October. While the Bochum player’s sum went up to 3 million euros as a result of a shoulder joint sprain, other two-league professionals increased significantly. Most recently, Sissoko only finished in 28th place (statistics).
Since his move, Sissoko has appeared in 41 games for Bochum and scored five goals and one assist. Due to the injury, there have only been six appearances in the league so far this season, but he is still the team’s third-best goalscorer with three goals. Sissoko is once again in a relegation battle with the French first division club: Nantes is in 16th place in Ligue 1 with 14 points from 17 games.