Transfer market: Divin Mubama close to joining Southampton on loan

He is set to continue his meteoric rise

Africa Today at 19:43

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Transfer market: Divin Mubama close to joining Southampton on loan

Divin Mubama is preparing to embark on a new chapter in his young career. Southampton have reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City to sign the English striker on loan. According to reports from Fabrizio Romano, all that remains is the final green light from the Citizens, with internal discussions still ongoing.

Divin Mubama could thus return to the Championship to rack up valuable minutes and continue his development away from the fierce competition at Manchester City.

A promising season at Stoke

The young striker is coming off an impressive spell with Stoke City. On loan from Manchester City, he featured in 26 Championship matches, starting 20 of them, and recorded 5 goals and an assist. Notably, he netted a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Bristol City in November.

His record could have been even more impressive if not for a disrupted end to the season. Nevertheless, Mubama showed he can be a real threat in a Championship side, displaying the attributes of a classic number 9—dangerous in the box but also able to contribute to the build-up play.

Manchester City spotted his talent early on. Having joined the Etihad from West Ham in 2024, he quickly made his mark with the club's development squad.

A goal machine among City's youth

In his first season at Manchester City, Mubama posted eye-catching numbers with the Elite Development Squad. In just nine Premier League 2 appearances, he scored 10 goals and provided 4 assists.

February was especially spectacular for him: five goals and two assists earned him the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.

He then scored in all four playoff matches, playing a direct role in Manchester City's title run. He notably bagged a brace against Liverpool before finding the net against Arsenal, Manchester United, and Southampton.

These performances earned him a shot with the first team. He made his Premier League debut in City’s 6-0 victory at Ipswich and also scored on his FA Cup debut against Salford City.

A pre-season fueling his ambitions

Mubama also took full advantage of Manchester City's 2026 summer preparations. He already has two goals and an assist in three pre-season games, underlining his intent to seize every chance to impress the City coaching staff.

But with attacking competition at an all-time high, another loan seems the best route for him to take the next step.

Southampton could be exactly what he needs: minutes, responsibilities, and a prominent role in the attacking setup.

For Manchester City, this move fits their development strategy. The club is not giving up on their young striker, but wants to provide him with the environment to turn his potential into consistent top-level performances.

At Southampton, Mubama would now have the chance to move from City prospect to a striker capable of making his mark in professional football.