Zambia U17 National team captain Jonathan Kalimina is expected back in the country later today after attending pre-season with Austrian Bundesliga giants Redbull Salzburg.
Kalimina spent part of the pre-season in Wals-Siezenheim with Die Roten Bullen and was also involved in the club friendly match against Japanese club Gamba Osaka, as earlier reported by the ZamFoot Crew.
Kalimana returns home to continue his development with Kafue Celtic. Salzburg secured the signature of the highly rated defender in January and he is set to officially join the Austrian Bundesliga champions in January 2027 when he turns 18.
Kalimina is expected to sign a long-term deal with the club, which has built a reputation as one of Europe’s leading development sides for young talent.
The defender attracted international attention after captaining Zambia national under-17 football team to a historic run at the 2024 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where Zambia reached the knockout stages for the first time.
His commanding displays and leadership during the tournament reportedly drew interest from several European clubs before Salzburg won the race for his signature.
Kalimina follows a familiar pathway taken by prominent Zambian internationals, including Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu, who both used Salzburg as a springboard to major European leagues.
Salzburg are widely recognised for developing young players, and Kalimina is expected to continue his growth within the club’s highly regarded system before making the transition into senior European football.
