Esperance Tunis rivals Al Ahly FC for Ivorian Josafat Bada from JS Kabylie

Esperance Tunis has entered the race to sign Ivorian Josafat Arthur Bada, a midfielder for JS Kabylie, after expressing interest in acquiring his services during the upcoming winter transfer window. They will compete with Al Ahly FC, who had previously included the player among their options to strengthen their midfield.

Reports have emerged today, Sunday, that the name Bada has been proposed to the management of Esperance Tunis by one of the player agents, as the Tunisian club is searching for a new foreign player to strengthen their midfield, especially in defensive roles.

According to the same sources, the management of Esperance Tunis has not yet moved to the official negotiation stage, but they are studying the possibility of making a move to sign the player in January, which could open the door to direct competition with Al Ahly FC.

Al Ahly FC has already begun inquiring about JS Kabylie's stance on the possibility of parting with the player, after the club's scouting committee recommended signing him. However, the Egyptian moves have remained within the framework of communications through intermediaries, aiming to learn about the financial demands of the Algerian club, without making an official offer so far.

Zambro Traoré, the player's agent, clarified in previous statements that Bada's name being linked to a move to Al Ahly FC has not gone beyond the stage of communications made by some intermediaries, emphasizing that the management of JS Kabylie has not received any official contact from the Egyptian club.

The player's agent emphasized that the possibility of his departure will remain linked to the nature of the offer presented, especially since his contract with the Algerian team runs until June 2028.

On the other hand, JS Kabylie’s management does not seem ready to easily part with their Ivorian player, who has become one of the key elements in midfield since joining the team in the summer of 2025, coming from Singida United.

Algerian media reports that the club's management is considering improving and extending Arthur's contract to ensure his continuity and fend off interested clubs, especially since his contract does not include a release clause that allows him to leave for a predetermined fee.

Arthur Bada is 24 years old and excels in midfield, both defensively and offensively, with the ability to move and link the team's lines. He joined JS Kabylie in July 2025 and has participated in 25 matches in the Algerian league.

The player is contracted to the club until June 30, 2028, allowing JS Kabylie to set the terms of his departure amid increasing interest in his services from outside Algeria.

In the local competition, Esperance Tunis is in second place in the league table with 13 points from 6 matches, trailing leaders Union Sportive de Ben Guerdane by 4 points, who have collected 17 points from 7 matches.