After his proposed move to Polish side Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała fell through, Ugandan defender Gift Fred is now set to join Ethiopian heavyweights St. George, sources at The Nerve Africa have exclusively learned.
The 27-year-old, who was released by Tanzanian champions Young Africans SC at the end of the 2023/24 season, was expected to join Podbeskidzie last month after reaching an agreement. However, he failed his medical tests and subsequently returned to Uganda.
His representatives at Prosper Sports Agency quickly began searching for a new team, opening talks with St. George throughout the past week. The discussions have been positive, and a source from the agency confirmed that the player will fly to Ethiopia on Monday to sign a two-year contract.
“As you’re aware, the move to Poland fell through, but we kept working because we know what Fred can offer as a player. Negotiations with St. George have been positive, and the saga is now over. St. George is one of the top teams in Africa, so this is a big move,” the source told The Nerve Africa.
Meanwhile, documents seen by The Nerve indicate that Gift Fred will receive approximately €12,500 (51,700,000 Ugandan Shillings) as a signing bonus, with a salary of €895 (3,600,000 Ugandan Shillings).
It should be noted that the defender spent just one season at Young Africans, a stint that was unlikely to be memorable due to limited playing time. He made only one appearance in the Tanzanian Premier League and did not feature in the CAF Champions League, despite the team’s advancement to the quarterfinals.
Before his time in Tanzania, Fred captained Ugandan Premier League record-holders SC Villa for two seasons. He had previously played for Booma Football Club in the FUFA Big League, Uganda’s second-tier division, a club known for developing some of the country’s top talents.
On the international stage, Fred made his debut for the Uganda Cranes (the national senior team) in 2022, earning five competitive caps. He also played in Uganda’s unsuccessful campaign to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Côte d’Ivoire.
