Former Manchester United youngster Deji Sotona has sealed a return to England after an unproductive spell in France.
Sotona was part of Manchester United’s under-18s side which reached the FA Youth Cup semi-finals in 2019/20, before turning down a new contract and leaving the club.
The MEN reported Sotona turned down a three year contract extension in 2020 and left on a free transfer.
Sotona joined Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Nice in Ligue 1, but failed to make the breakthrough.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023
Sotona returns to England
Deji Sotona has clinched a return to English football, signing with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
The 20-year-old had spent the first part of the season on loan at Kilmarnock in Scotland, where he made two first team appearances, his competitive debut.
Now he has left Nice on a permanent basis, clinching a move to Burnley. He is initially expected to play for their under-21 side.
Last January, Sotona signed with Brentford’s B side on loan, and was praised by coach Neil MacFarlane: “Deji has electrifying speed and we’ve been interested in him prior to his move to Nice.”
Sotona was unable to clinch a permanent move to the Bees, and has now ended his spell in France for good, returning to the North West of England.
The young forward’s speed earned him notoriety at Manchester United, when The Mail reported in 2020 that he clocked a faster time in speed tests than any first team player, including Marcus Rashford and Dan James.
Sotona scored five goals in 21 Manchester United academy appearances, and has also represented Republic of Ireland at youth level.
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