Liberia’s teenage sensation Jonathan Freeman has completed a major step in his young football journey, putting pen to paper with Bosnia’s FK Željezničar Sarajevo.
The 17-year-old forward, who has been widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in Liberian football, joins the club on a one-year deal with an automatic extension clause. He arrives alongside 20-year-old American striker Santiago Garcia, as Željezničar seeks to sharpen its attack ahead of the new season.
Freeman’s path to Europe has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the last two seasons with Discoveries FC in Liberia’s First Division League, he established himself as a prolific goalscorer and playmaker. In the 2023/24 campaign, the teenager struck 29 goals in 29 appearances, adding 15 assists to his tally. He followed that up with 20 goals and 13 assists in the 2024/25 season, playing every single minute of the league.
His leadership qualities have also shone through. Freeman captains Liberia’s U-20 national team and was rewarded with a senior Lone Star call-up in March 2024.
The move to Željezničar did not come without competition. Reports in Bosnia revealed that city rivals FK Sarajevo had initially courted Freeman after he trained with them, but negotiations broke down. Željezničar moved quickly to secure his signature, agreeing to cover developmental fees to Discoveries FC and adding milestone-based bonuses into the contract structure.
Club insiders say Freeman will be eligible to sign a full three-year professional deal once he turns 18. In the meantime, he has already linked up with his new teammates at the preseason training camp in Međugorje.
For Željezničar, the capture of Freeman represents both an investment in youth and a statement of ambition. The Grbavica-based club believes the Liberian forward has the potential to make an immediate impact, with hopes that strong performances could lead to an early contract extension by January 2026.
From Monrovia’s pitches to Sarajevo’s Grbavica Stadium, Jonathan Freeman’s rise underscores the growing influence of Liberian footballers on the global stage. At just 17, the journey is only beginning, but Europe is now watching Liberia’s wonderkid closely.
