Fallou Fall is joining Major League Soccer side "St. Louis CITY SC" from Norwegian club Fredrikstad FK in a €3 million transfer deal. The 21-year-old Senegalese defender has signed a contract running until 2028, with the club holding an option to extend through 2029. The transfer will be officially completed when the secondary window opens on July 24.
"Fallou is a young, line-breaking defender who brings the size, athleticism, and defensive instincts we value in our back line," – explained Lutz Pfannenstiel, St. Louis sporting director, in the club's announcement.
At €3 million, Fall becomes the second most expensive acquisition in the brief history of St. Louis CITY SC, behind only João Klauss. Interestingly, the defender was also reportedly on the radar of Bundesliga side "Werder Bremen" before choosing the American club.
Industry insiders have drawn comparisons between Fall and Bayer Leverkusen center-back Edmond Tapsoba due to his athletic profile and explosive playing style. The young defender emerged as one of the standout talents in Norway this season, initially joining Fredrikstad on loan from Stade Reims before the Norwegian club made the deal permanent just days ago.
Rather than making an immediate jump to a top-five European league, Fall has opted for what many see as an intermediate step in MLS. Can this promising but unfinished talent live up to the Tapsoba comparisons and justify his price tag in American soccer?
