Next newcomer at SK Rapid: The Hütteldorfer presented their 6th newcomer with Thierno Ballo on the last open day of the transfer window! The current ÖFB-U21 team player was able to go on loan for a year from Champions League winners Chelsea FC from London to Vienna …
“Rapid tried very hard for me, so I really wanted to take the step. So I’m all the happier that both clubs have now been able to come to an agreement. I’m looking forward to the upcoming task with my team-mates and can hardly wait to appear in front of the Rapid fans in the Allianz Stadium for the first time, ”said Ballo according to a broadcast by SK Rapid.
At least as pleased as Ballo was Rapids Sport Managing Director Zoran Barisic after the finalization of the transfer. “We wanted to aggressively add more personnel, especially because a tight schedule awaits us in autumn. With Thierno we have managed to sign a versatile player who has already impressively demonstrated his talent both at Chelsea and in the youth national team, for a year Ballo to be expected. He will be given “all the support he needs for his further development”.
Before joining the youth team at Chelsea, where he made 76 competitive games, 18 goals and 10 assists in three years in the U18 and U23, he was trained in the LASK youth team, Bayer Leverkusen and Viktoria Köln. At SK Rapid, which has no purchase option for the native Ivorian, the first step into adult professional football should now be successful. Rapid coach Didi Kühbauer: “He would like to take the next development step with us and we will all support him in this.”