How is ex-Sunderland Star Josh Maja doing at Bordeaux?
As Sunderland sunk to the third tier of English Football after back to back relegations, all hope was initially lost…
Step forward, Josh Maja.
The young Nigerian Striker took League One by storm, giving Sunderland fans hope of turning around their misfortunes.
It was a relatively slow start to life in senior football, with Maja scoring just 1 goal in 17 appearances for a Black Cats side that finished rock bottom of the Championship, during the 2017/18 season.
However, it was during the 2018/19 season in which he announced his potential to the footballing world, as Sunderland found themselves in the third tier of English Football.
Maja contributed with an impressive 17 attacking returns in 24 appearances - 15 goals and 2 assists, during a season that first appeared full of positivity for The Black Cats.
Avid viewers of Netflix’s ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ will know what happened next, but for the benefit of maximum impact, I’ll elaborate anyway.
Just as Sunderland had found their talisman, young prospect Josh Maja had other plans.
With his contract at Sunderland quickly dwindling down, he rejected multiple renewal attempts from the Tyneside club and eventually left for a reported fee of £1.5m, after signing a pre-contract agreement with Ligue 1 outfit, Bordeaux.
Not the ideal start…
The 21 year-old striker from Lewisham made his debut for Bordeaux on the 17th February 2019 and played 67 minutes as he adjusted to life in Ligue 1.
However, it would be April 20th that Maja would score his first goal for the club, but also sustain a season ending knee injury, after just 7 games.
The Return
Despite another slow start, Maja has adapted to life in Ligue 1.
Upon his return from injury, he scored the first hat-trick of his career and chipped in with an assist, against Nîmes Olimpique.
This would kick-start an impressive second season in France.
The hat-trick resulted in more game time for Maja and after 4 goals in his last 5 games, he finished as top goalscorer with 8 goals in all competitions - with the Ligue 1 season cancelled prematurely.
From League One to Ligue 1
Josh Maja’s transition from the third tier of English football to top flight French football has been slow and steady. The 21 year-old looks to have found some consistency for Bordeaux and will look to replace Jimmy Briand as main striker over the next couple of seasons.
Bordeaux fans have also taken to Maja well and have displayed patience, acknowledging he is young with a lot of potential.
In spite of his good form of recent, there have been rumours linking him with a return to English football, with Chelsea FC, Crystal Palace and West Ham reportedly interested.
At the time, the switch from Sunderland to Bordeaux was surrounded by a host of negativity, and although Sunderland Owner Stewart Donald couldn’t grasp the move, asking; “why would you want to leave Sunderland Football Club?” - it’s a move that has looked promising for Maja, as he continues his development in Ligue 1.
Article by: Samuel Slaney
Thumbnail by: Samuel Slaney
Images interpreted from: Getty Images