Manchester United thought they were walking into this transfer window with a big advantage due to Ineos but Man City have been the first to benefit.
It’s ethically debatable, but the multi-ownership mechanism is the new reality for football clubs, so either one gets on with it or gets left behind.
Man Utd finally got on with it when Ineos came in, with their ownership portfolio of OGC Nice in France and FC Lausanne providing exciting potential.
It was materialising too, with Sekou Kone linked to Lausanne for a loan move, but in a deal that will leave Man Utd fans wondering, Man City have been the first to benefit.
Ineos Sport CEO Jean-Claude Blanc, Ineos Sports Director Dave Brailsford and Ineos CEO and owner of OGC Nice Jim Ratcliffe celebrate Nice victory on the pitch following the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between AS Monaco (ASM) and OGC Nice (OGCN) at Stade Louis II on September 22, 2023
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Man City strike deal with OGC Nice
With all due respect to FC Lausanne Sport, who play in the top tier of Swiss football alongside giants like FC Basel, the real goldmine for United lay in France.
The footballing world has seen how Chelsea have effectively used Strasbourg as a glorified youth academy to farm young talents in Ligue 1.
While doing it to that extent and completely stripping off a club’s original identity is in poor taste, Ineos seem to be going to the other extreme with OGC Nice and Man Utd.
In a deal that will leave United fans wondering what could have been, Nice have struck an agreement with Man City to sign Juma Bah on loan for the season.
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🚨🔴⚫️ Juma Bah from Manchester City to OGC Nice, here we go! Verbal agreement done for the defender to join the club on loan.
Olympique Lyon and OGC Nice wanted Bah but the player has decided to proceed with Nice. pic.twitter.com/rhJJcpqdU3
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2025
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The 19-year-old centre-back chose Nice over Lyon, and with that, Nice have become the breeding ground for an exciting City talent, when that place could have easily been occupied by a United player.
It is worth noting that FIFA banned United and Nice from transferring players to each other till September 1, 2025, after the ownership tussle last year when both were in Europe.
However, not only can a move theoretically happen on deadline day, but it also doesn’t excuse Nice from doing Man City a favour instead.
Several Man Utd youngsters can benefit from Nice loan
Playing for a competitive outfit in Ligue 1 can be the ideal scenario for several Man Utd youngsters.
Those on the fringe of a breakthrough, like Sekou Kone, or those who want to get acclimatised to Europe, like Diego Leon, can do a job there.
Furthermore, playing one season of professional football in a top-five league can also raise the asking price for players who won’t get much of a chance at Old Trafford this season.
Ligue 1’s loan rules state that a club can have a maximum of five players on loan at a time, while a maximum of two of those can be from the same club.
By dealing for Bah, Nice have closed off one spot which could have been used by a United player from January 2026, if not on deadline day of 2025 itself.
If Bah thrives on loan, Nice will have made Man City a lot richer, either by his breakthrough in the senior team or by making him a sellable asset.
As cynical as it sounds, this is the reality of modern football, and Ineos have missed a trick by helping a rival.