Be Forward Wanderers have sold their blossoming midfielder Fransisco Madinga to Georgian top-flight league side FC Dila Gori at $15 000 (about K11.2 million).
Confirming the transfer fee in an interview on Tuesday, the Nomads chairperson Gift Mkandawire said: “Of course, it is not much, but we are advancing the player’s interests. We cannot block the player from prospects of a bright future, especially a rare opportunity to play in Europe.
“As per our transfer fee agreement, we also stand to gain 20 percent in the event that the boy is sold to another club.”
The Wanderers chairperson also said the player has been offered a three-year deal and is expected to sign a contract once he arrives in Georgia.
The deal comes as a solace for the Nomads who are swimming under a pile of debts, including outstanding game bonuses for players in excess of K6 million.
Madinga, who turns 20 in November, is set to leave the country today.
“I have always dreamt of playing in Europe, especially in England and Spain and I feel this is the first step towards achieving that.
“I will give it my all to impress and open up other opportunities not only for me, but fellow Malawian players as well,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.
The Under-20 national team midfielder thanked the Nomads for developing him into what he is today.
The Georgian outfit’s agent spotted Madinga at last year’s Under-20 Cosafa Youth Championship in Zambia.
“I really like the player [and] I think moving to Europe will be a very good thing for Malawi football,” he told The Nation last month.
The agent also expressed interest in Nyasa Big Bullets wonderkid Peter Banda, but nothing has materialised yet.
Madinga becomes the third Wanderers player to clinch an overseas deal within the last three seasons. The others are Japan-based Jabulani Linje and Yamikani Chester who is based in the US.
