This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On August 8, 2019, Germany's football federation, the DFB, launched an inquiry into the identity of Gambian footballer Bakery Jatta, who plays for Hamburg's second division side.
According to Hamburg's records, Jatta is 21 years old and arrived in Germany from Gambia as a 16-year-old in 2015. However, German daily Sport Bild disputes this, claiming that Jatta is actually two and a half years older and has played for Gambia's U20 side under the name Bakery Daffeh.
As reported by Bild, two managers identified Jatta as their former player Daffeh, who had played for numerous clubs in Africa and Gambia's Under 20s side before moving to Germany.
Despite a medical exam in 2016 revealing that Jatta's biological development had finished, his true age was never questioned until Bild's report.
Hamburg has responded to the allegations by backing their player and launching an inquiry of their own. The club stated, "We have Bakery Jatta's valid passport and work permit. Bakery has been exemplary ever since he joined us. He was quick to integrate himself into the squad, we respect him as a player and as a person."
Jatta's agent has denied falsifying documents, saying, "He has a valid passport, which has been checked. All the rest for us doesn't make any sense."
If Bild's claims are verified, Jatta risks having his work permit withdrawn and being hit with a suspension from the DFB.
