Cracovia have completed the signing of Cameroon centre-forward Jean Batoum from FC Ashdod, bringing the 23-year-old to Poland in a deal that takes him from Israel’s top flight to the Ekstraklasa. The transfer is effective from 2026-02-11, with the striker joining the Kraków club on a contract running until an undisclosed end date, and the move recorded without a publicly stated transfer fee.
Batoum arrives at Cracovia listed with a market value of €350k, reflecting his rapid rise over the past two seasons. The forward leaves FC Ashdod of Ligat ha’Al for his first spell in Polish football, becoming part of a Cracovia side competing in the Ekstraklasa and adding another international element to the club’s attacking options.
Born in Edea, Cameroon, on 28/03/2002, Batoum is a right-footed centre-forward standing 1.84m tall and specialising in the central attacking role. His move to Cracovia continues a swift progression through three clubs in as many seasons: from Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo in Cameroon to Dynamo Douala, then to FC Ashdod in Israel, and now on to Poland. Each step has taken him further from his home league and deeper into European competition structures.
The transfer from FC Ashdod to Cracovia is recorded in the 25/26 season, following his switch to the Israeli side from Dynamo Douala earlier in the same campaign. Before that, he had joined Dynamo Douala from Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo at the start of the 24/25 season, marking his transition from domestic Cameroonian football to a path that now leads into the Ekstraklasa.
At FC Ashdod, Batoum’s performances contributed to a market valuation of €350k as of late 2025. While individual match statistics, goals, and assists are not detailed in the provided data, the swift succession of moves and his maintained valuation indicate a player regarded as a developing asset with room to grow in a more competitive European environment.
For Cracovia, the acquisition of a 23-year-old international centre-forward aligns with a strategy of adding younger, resaleable talent to their squad. Batoum’s ability to operate through the middle of the attack provides depth and a different physical profile in the forward line, while also offering the Polish club potential long-term value if his development continues.
From a career perspective, the move positions Batoum firmly abroad at a relatively early age, following his first step outside Cameroon with FC Ashdod. Playing in the Ekstraklasa gives the Cameroonian a platform in a European league with greater visibility, which could prove decisive for his future opportunities.
Contract details beyond the start date of 2026-02-11 and the absence of a listed fee remain undisclosed in the available data, leaving open the possibility of future movement or a later free agency scenario once his Cracovia deal runs its course. For now, however, the transfer is confirmed and complete: Jean Batoum is a Cracovia player, and his next phase will unfold in Poland’s top division.
