Manchester City are being linked with a move for Austria-Ghana centre-back Samson Baidoo, who has emerged as a €12m-rated prospect at Ligue 1 side Lens.
The 21-year-old only joined Lens from Red Bull Salzburg in July 2025 but is already reported to be on the radar of the Premier League champions, according to data from Transfermarkt. The move is listed as a rumour with the probability of a switch currently unclear (marked “?”), and there is no public information on the length of his Lens deal, leaving open the long-term possibility of him running down his contract and becoming a free agent if no agreement is found.
Baidoo, born in Graz on 31 March 2004, has developed through the Red Bull system, progressing from FC Liefering’s youth ranks to Liefering’s first team, then on to Salzburg before making the step to France with Lens. Standing at 1.90m and predominantly right-footed, he is listed as a specialist centre-back and has been tracked for his blend of physical presence and ball-playing ability.
His rise in value has been steep, climbing from €75,000 at Liefering in 2021 to a current market value of €12.00m at Lens as of December 2025. That trajectory reflects his growing reputation following competitive spells in the Austrian Bundesliga and now Ligue 1.
Recent Lens performances have helped underpin the interest, with Baidoo featuring at the heart of defence in early 2026 as the French side look to stabilise in the top half of the table, keeping clean sheets in tight league encounters and showcasing aerial dominance against leading Ligue 1 forwards.
With Manchester City continually refreshing their defensive options and monitoring emerging talent from across Europe, Baidoo’s situation at Lens is likely to be watched closely in the coming windows – a move to the Premier League could prove a decisive step in shaping his career and elevating his profile on the biggest stage.
