Fredrikstad FK have hijacked what had reportedly been a near-complete Premier League transfer to secure the signing of highly rated Cameroonian centre-back Chris Ireene Ntamack Pondy.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via his official x handle, the 17-year-old left-footed defender was on course for a move to England before Fredrikstad intervened to finalise a deal.
Fabrizio posted:
Norwegian side Fredrikstad hijack deal and sign Chris Ireene Ntamack Pondy who was set for Premier League move. 2008 born defender from Cameroon will join the Norwegian club.
The Norway-based club have now positioned themselves as the next step in the youngster’s development pathway.
Born in 2008, Ntamack Pondy is regarded as one of Cameroon’s emerging defensive prospects. Rather than facing immediate pressure and limited opportunities in the Premier League, the move to Norway is viewed as a strategic decision that could offer gradual first-team exposure, tactical refinement and consistent playing time.
Fredrikstad’s intervention may ultimately reshape the defender’s trajectory, allowing him to build experience and confidence in a stable environment before potentially making a future move to one of Europe’s top leagues.
In other developments, Softfootball reported that Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25 per cent stake in UD Almería, marking his official entry into football ownership. The 41-year-old recently scored his 965th career goal during Al-Nassr FC’s victory over Al-Najmah SC, further extending his historic scoring record.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid CF defeated SL Benfica 2–1 to secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Vinícius Júnior proved decisive once again, having already scored the only goal in Madrid’s 1–0 first-leg victory before playing a key role in the second-leg triumph on 25 February 2026.
