After a long wait, 17-year-old Bakery Jatta has finally been granted permission to sign a professional contract in his adopted Germany.
The prodigious Gambian talent turns 18 today, and Bild are reporting that he will finally sign on the dotted line for Hamburg after an arduous 'wait-and-see' process.
Jatta fled his native land, minus his family, last year and spent his time in the Lothar Kannenberg Academy - a supervised youth welfare and educational institution in Rothenburg.
He had never played for a professional club, but in January he convinced Hamburg to take him on trial. He entered the club's new training ground as an unknown and trained alongside the first team, with his ball control, pace and crossing ability immediately turning the heads of those in attendance.
After impressing coach Bruno Labbadia, the young winger and the club reached an agreement for him to join the club on a permanent basis.
However, FIFA rules delayed his signature for more than half a year, with both parties required to wait until Jatta turned 18 before he could sign a professional contract, owing both to his status as a refugee and the fact that he had arrived in Germany without a guardian.
Unable to join up with his future club, Jatta spent his winter and spring working with a private fitness coach in Bremen, and trained with a number of amateur clubs in the city.
Now, finally, he is free to sign his €100,000-per-year contract which will see him at Hamburg until at least 2019, and will join his new teammates for pre-season on June 27th.
