Club de Bruges abandons €2m option on teenage winger

Seventeen‑year‑old right winger Chris Grombahi, who arrived from Sporting Portugal in early February, will return to his parent club after Club de Bruges declined to trigger the €2 million purchase option. The decision ends a short loan spell in which the Portuguese forward featured in only two Challenger Pro League matches for the Belgian side.

The loan was completed at the close of the winter transfer window for Club de Bruges’ second team competing in the Challenger Pro League. A three‑year contract had been slated for Grombahi should the loan prove successful.

Portuguese media outlet O Globo reported that the North‑Venice club opted against exercising the purchase clause after the youngster logged just two league appearances. The clause would have required Club de Bruges to pay two million euros to secure Grombahi permanently.

Grombahi, born in Abidjan, will rejoin Sporting Portugal (also known as Sporting Lisbonne) and also feature for their espoirs team. He previously recorded five goals and four assists for Sporting’s youth side before moving to Bruges in January.

By forgoing the €2 million outlay, Club de Bruges can allocate resources toward other transfer targets. The club’s hierarchy indicated a shift in focus toward bolstering the U23 squad.

The U23 team this season faces the prospect of dropping into the amateur divisions. Club de Bruges therefore intends to recruit additional profiles to avoid relegation.