Lech signed Adriel Ba Loua

A similar situation took place two years ago when Lubomir Šatka signed a contract with Lech and then returned to Slovakia to play two Europa League qualifying games with his former team, DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda. The winger from Ivory Coast will appear at Bułgarska street next Friday, on August 27^th. “We have signed a creative player who will give us a variety of new options in the offence. Now our task is to get him adapted to the team as soon as possible,” said Lech’s coach, Maciej Skorża.

The 25-year-old Ba Loua from Abidjan joined Lille as a teenager. Then he went on to compete for Vejle Boldklub where he appeared in 52 games in the second Danish division, scoring 6 goals and assisting his teammates 8 times. In summer 2019 Ba Loua was bought by the Czech club MFK Karvina. In the 57 games he played in the top Czech division, the winger found the back of the net 4 times and got 18 assists. His great performances opened the door to Viktoria Plzen and in the 2021/2022 season, he joined the well-known club. Over the past year, he competed in 46 matches for Viktoria, scored 9 times and added 6 assists to his account.

“We have been observing Adriel for the past two years. In summer last year, we tried signing him but he chose to join Viktoria Plzen. Bringing down a winger has been our priority and Ba Loua was on the list of 3-4 players that we have been talking to. We have already started negotiations with Viktoria back in May, but back then the Czech club wasn’t interested. Only in the past week did the talks become more serious and today we signed a 4-year contract with Adriel,” explained Lech’s Sporting Director, Tomasz Rząsa.

The winger from Ivory Coast travelled to Poznań shortly after the Sunday clash between Slovan Liberec and Viktoria Plzen (0:1). On Monday morning, he underwent medical tests and in the afternoon, he signed a contract with Lech Poznań which will last until June 30^th, 2025.

“I am a left-footed player who is usually positioned on the left flank. I believe I am a fast winger, good in one-on-one situations and a skilled playmaker. I can also score goals myself, and both assists and goals are something which I came here to do and which I want to give to the club,” said Ba Loua. “I have been looking for an opportunity to take another step in my career and Lech is a great place to do that. I have heard a lot about the club, its fans and the fantastic stadium, hence I cannot wait to feel the atmosphere. I believe that this upcoming year will be a good one for us,” added the 25-year-old.

Ba Loua will play with the number 50 on his shirt. On Monday evening, the player will travel back to the Czech Republic and then he will return to Poznań on August 27^th. The winger has one more mission to complete at his former club – that is, to help Viktoria Plzen qualify to the Europa Confederation League group phase. “That was the condition of the Czech club. A similar situation took place two years ago with Lubomir Šatka. Adriel will officially join us when the international break begins,” explained Rząsa.