Swapping Sunderland for Bordeaux during the January transfer window, Josh Maja surprised quite a few people.
Yet to fully integrate the first-team in Ligue 1 as the club continue to allow him time to adapt to his new environment, the forward remains confident he will find success in the south of France, joining the select few English players to have done well for themselves across the Channel.
However, his long-term goal isn’t to stay where he is now, it’s to return to the Premier League, more specifically at the Emirates with Arsenal.
In an interview with France Football, Maja said: “I support Barcelona and Arsenal, because they’re my local team. Of course, I’d really like to play in the team with which I grew up. It would be great. It’s clear the Premier League is one of the best in the world, with the best teams.
“I hope to play there one day, but for now I’m with Bordeaux, I want to succeed here and we’ll see about the rest later.”
With just two starts (five appearances altogether) to his name since moving to France, it might take some time for Maja to really establish himself.
However, at the tender age of 20, time is what he has on his side.
As Arsenal are some way from needing to look at a post-Aubameyang and post-Lacazette era, perhaps their paths will cross in a couple of years.
Who knows, but first, he’ll need to start recapturing his Sunderland form, where he scored 15 goals in 24 League One appearances earlier in the campaign.
