Zambia U17 National team captain Jonathan Kalimina will attend pre-season with Austrian Bundesliga giants Redbull Salzburg, the ZamFoot Crew can exclusively reveal.
Kalimina will leave for Wals-Siezenheim over the weekend to join Die Roten Bullen for their pre-season before returning home to continue his development with Kafue Celtic.
Salzburg secured the signature of the highly rated defender in January, with the teenager set to officially join the Austrian Bundesliga champions in January 2027 when he turns 18.
In early March, Kalimina started German lessons as he prepares to start his life with Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg next year.
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.
