Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh, the 19-year-old centre-back who currently plays for Norwegian side Tromsø, is reportedly wanted by Premier League clubs Manchester United and Chelsea. The Gambian defender has already made 21 appearances for his club in the league so far this season. He's also scored a goal and assisted another as well in the league so far despite being a defender.
Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh - The Man Utd and Chelsea target's career so far
Tromsø brought in Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh on trial in February 2025 from their partner academy in Senegal, alongside Massamba M’Baye. After impressing during the trial period, Kinteh was the only one offered a contract and signed a five-year deal running until 2029. He made his debut in the Norwegian Cup before earning his first league start a month later.
Kinteh quickly became a key part of Tromsø’s 2025 season. After just three league games, the club turned down a €5 million bid for the 18-year-old, which would have been a record sale for Tromsø. His strong left foot, pace and physical presence earned him the Young Player of the Month award for May.
Later in the year, his rapid rise was rewarded with a call-up to Gambia’s national team for World Cup qualifiers, and he made his international debut in October 2025.
New transfer report states Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh
A new report from the daily mail has claimed that Chelsea and Manchester United are keeping close tabs on Tromsø’s young defensive talent Sedi Kinteh after his impressive breakthrough season in Norway. The left-sided centre-back has caught the eye of scouts from several top European clubs, with his pace, versatility, and strong early performances making him one of the most talked-about young defenders in the league. Both Premier League clubs have good scouting links in Norway and are considering a possible move in the summer as they look to strengthen their defensive options.
However, the report has also added that Swiss clubs Basel and Young Boys are thinking about making an early move before the Swiss window closes on February 16, hoping to sign Kinteh now and potentially sell him on for a profit later. Tromsø are reportedly seeking around £4 million for the 18-year-old, who can also play at left-back and has recorded top speeds close to the Premier League’s fastest defenders.
Norwegian football expert's opinion on Man Utd and Chelsea linked Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh
Norwegian football expert Bastian Schmitz had the following to say about Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh while talking to transfermarkt
“He is highly rated in Norway, even though he has only been with the club for one year. Kinteh is playing left centre-back in Tromsø's back-three system and is an extremely athletic and mobile player with good ball control. He is good at initiating attacks with both short and long passes. If he has any weaknesses, then they lie in defensive consistency, but he benefited from the stability and structure of Tromsø's strong back three last season.”
Shmitz also added the following:
“His athleticism and ball prowess has already attracted several clubs; in winter, there was reportedly a concrete offer from Al-Ahli for around €6million, rising to €8m with bonuses. However, the transfer reportedly fell through due to problems with the regulation regarding the number of foreign players in the Saudi-League. Tromsø will likely demand a similarly high transfer fee during the summer transfer window, but this sum will certainly be influenced by the league season starting in March and Kinteh's performance, if a transfer doesn't happen beforehand.”
Our opinion on Manchester United and Chelsea potentially looking at Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh
Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh perfectly fits the profile of players that the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea look for in the transfer market - a young player with immense potential and huge resale value in the future if he reaches the expected levels. We feel the report is genuine in regards to the interest of the 2 clubs in the player.
A move to either of these clubs might be too soon though for Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh, who's still just 19. Our advice to him would be to either stay at Tromsø, or join any of the Swiss clubs that are currently interested in signing him. That might be the best move for him, as it'll give him enough time to develop and eventually make a big move to a top European club.
