Malian U17 international Ladji Koma Mariko is poised to join Spanish side Real Betis after signing a pre-contract agreement with the La Liga club.
The highly-rated forward, who currently represents Dreams Football academy, will officially move to the Andalusian outfit once he reaches the age of majority, according to reports from Africafoot.
Spanish clubs have shown growing interest in Malian talents in recent years, frequently securing the country’s brightest prospects ahead of rival suitors.
Barcelona previously signed Ibrahim Diarra, while Villarreal added Mahamoud Barry to their ranks.
Betis are the latest club to tap into Mali’s talent pipeline by acquiring Mariko, a product of the renowned Dreams Football academy.
The Bamako-based academy has a proven track record of producing players for the Spanish market, having previously facilitated the moves of Ibrahima Kébé, Moussa Kébé, and Zakarya Alhadar Maiga to Girona.
Mariko, widely regarded as a prolific goalscorer, is currently part of Mali’s U17 national team preparing for the upcoming U17 AFCON, set to take place in Morocco from 30 March to 19 April 2025.
His anticipated switch to Real Betis marks the next step in his burgeoning career as he seeks to follow in the footsteps of other Malian talents making their mark in European football.
