Gambian forward Kalifa Jatta has completed a permanent transfer to Finnish Veikkausliiga side AC Oulu after the club exercised the buy option included in his initial loan deal from BST Galaxy FC, Footy-Africa can confirm.
The move marks a significant milestone in Jatta’s growing career and rewards his impressive performances during his time in Finland.
Jatta, who is represented by agent Modou Lamin Beyai, joined AC Oulu on loan with a clear objective: to prove himself. According to Beyai, the player’s dedication, discipline, and consistency throughout his loan spell made the club’s decision to activate the buy option straightforward.
“Kalifa really and truly deserved this,” Beyai exclusively told Footy-Africa. “He is a player who worked very hard and consistently during his loan spell to earn the trust of the club, which ultimately led them to exercise the buying option from BST Galaxy.”
During his loan period, Jatta featured prominently for AC Oulu’s B team, Oulun Luistinseura (OLS), where he made 15 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing one assist. His performances stood out not only for the numbers but also for his work rate and mentality, qualities that caught the attention of the club’s management.
“He went to AC Oulu with the right mindset, put his head down and delivered on the pitch,” Beyai added. “Those performances clearly showed that he could make the step up, and that is what convinced the management that he was ready for the first team.”
That progression was soon rewarded with Jatta’s Veikkausliiga debut against Vaasan Palloseura (VPS). Since then, he has continued to demonstrate reliability and steady development, reinforcing AC Oulu’s belief in his long-term potential.
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The move to Finland also represents a turning point after a challenging start to Jatta’s professional journey. He previously went on trials in Sweden with Degerfors IF and IF Brommapojkarna, and later had a spell in Poland with Miedź Legnica. According to Beyai, AC Oulu’s clear sporting project and trust in the player were decisive factors in choosing Finland as the next step.
“It was AC Oulu’s project that was really convincing,” Beyai noted. “That is why we sent him to Finland, and now I can confidently say it was the best decision.”
Reacting to the confirmation of his permanent deal, Jatta expressed gratitude and optimism about the future.
“I am very happy for this permanent deal and the team is expecting more from me. I can’t wait to get started,” he told Footy-Africa.
Asked whether he anticipated the move becoming permanent, the Gambian forward responded with confidence:
“Definitely yes, because I kept performing consistently, scoring and providing assists.”
With AC Oulu now committing to him on a permanent basis, Kalifa Jatta enters the next chapter of his career with momentum, belief, and a clear pathway to establish himself in the Finnish top flight.
