Senegalese teenage sensation Amara Diouf is on the verge of joining Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, dealing a crushing blow to French club FC Metz, who were previously leading the race for his signature.
Just 16 years old, Diouf has already carved out a place among the most exciting young talents in African football.
product of the renowned Génération Foot academy in Dakar, the left winger captained Senegal’s U17 side and holds the record for most goals in a single U17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
His combination of pace, technical flair, and maturity has made him a standout figure on the youth international stage.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that Diouf has reached a verbal agreement with Fenerbahçe, where José Mourinho, newly appointed head coach, is playing a pivotal role in securing the deal.
Turkish media claim the Istanbul club tabled an annual salary of €1.5 million—an offer that proved too tempting for the young forward to resist.
That financial package, coupled with Mourinho’s personal approval, gave Fenerbahçe the upper hand over competing clubs including Barcelona, Chelsea, and Metz.
The unexpected twist in Diouf’s trajectory was made possible by a legal adjustment to his contract with Génération Foot.
Initially tied to the academy until 2028, Diouf’s deal was reportedly shortened to June 2025 following a dispute reviewed by football’s governing authorities.
FIFA regulations prohibit contracts longer than three years for players under the age of 18, enabling the forward to become available earlier than anticipated.
This development rendered Metz’s longstanding partnership with Génération Foot powerless.
🚨🟡🔵 Fenerbahçe have agreed deal to sign Amara Diouf, one of the best talents in Africa.
Negotiations at final stages for a player who was in the list of several clubs and he’s joining Fener, as per @yagosabuncuoglu. pic.twitter.com/zvhJ4tVOH0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2025
The Ligue 1 side, which has historically benefited from the collaboration—nurturing talents like Sadio Mané and Ismaïla Sarr—now finds itself sidelined in the battle for Diouf.
For Metz, the disappointment is acute. The club not only rehabilitated Diouf following an injury that forced him to miss the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, but also expected him to be the next standout graduate to emerge in their colours.
Mourinho’s arrival in Türkiye appears to have changed the equation entirely.
Known for his knack for identifying young potential and integrating it into his squads, the Portuguese manager is reportedly determined to make Diouf a central figure in Fenerbahçe’s ambitious revival on the European stage.
While nothing is yet signed, all signs suggest that the “Special One” has once again used his influence to reshape the future of a rising star—this time at the expense of a club that believed it had first claim.
