
SK Rapid Wien have confirmed the season-long loan signing of Stoke City forward Ryan Mmaee.
The 26-year-old striker, who joined Stoke from Hungarian side Ferencváros in 2023 for a fee in the region of €2 million (£1.7 million), has struggled to make a significant impact at the Championship club. A series of injuries, coupled with increased competition in the squad, has limited Mmaee’s opportunities.
Mmaee began his professional career in the Belgian Pro League with Standard Liège, debuting at 17 in 2015. Despite early promise, disagreements with the management saw him dropped to the U-23s, and he later admitted to youthful naivety in handling his frustrations. Mmaee was loaned to Waasland-Beveren and Danish side AGF Aarhus, but neither spell proved successful, leading to his departure from Standard.
In 2019, he signed with AEL Limassol in Cyprus, where he found his form, scoring 17 goals in the 2020–21 season. His performances earned him a move to Hungarian champions Ferencváros in 2021, where he continued to impress, particularly in European competitions. Mmaee helped Ferencváros win consecutive league titles, scoring 19 goals in his first season and 12 in the next. His standout moments included scoring in the Champions League qualifiers and helping the team secure a domestic double in 2022. After two strong seasons in Hungary, Mmaee joined Stoke City in 2023.
Recently, he was left out of their first team squad and asked to train with the Under 21s after training ground issues, which Stoke boss Steven Schumacher explained at the time. “We set out on the first day about the standards we expect at the training ground. There have been a couple of instances, and I won’t need to go into the detail, where I felt Ryan wasn’t buying into that. It’s not fair to demand things from the whole squad and there’s one person who was letting staff and players down”
Despite being fit for Stoke’s last two matches, the forward sought clarity from manager Steven Schumacher regarding his role for the upcoming season. After a proposed loan to Hull City collapsed last week, the decision was made to allow Mmaee to explore a new opportunity in Vienna.
Mmaee, who remains under contract at Stoke until 2026, made 27 appearances in the Championship last season, scoring three times. The loan deal with Rapid Wien includes an option for the Austrian club to make the move permanent.
Speaking about the transfer, Rapid Wien sporting director Markus Katzer said, “We’ve been hit hard by injuries in our forward line recently, so it was important to strengthen in this area. Ryan Mmaee is a proven striker with European experience. He’s strong in front of goal and offers a physical presence in attack. Both the coach and I are excited to welcome him to the squad.”
Stoke City’s sporting director, Jon Walters, also commented on the deal: “Ryan is keen to play regular first-team football, and after discussions with Steven (Schumacher), we all agreed that a loan move would give him the best chance to get the minutes he’s looking for. This move works well for both the player and the club.”
The move to Rapid Wien offers Mmaee the chance to reignite his career. The Austrian side is looking to bolster its attacking options as it competes domestically and in Europe this season.
Site Opinion
This transfer gives Mmaee a valuable opportunity to get more playing time and showcase his talent, particularly in European competitions. It’s a sensible move for Rapid Wien, who gain an experienced forward to address their injury concerns. Meanwhile, Stoke City hopes Mmaee finds his form in Austria, potentially boosting his value ahead of a permanent transfer.
It does seem like the door is closed on his Stoke City career unless there’s a change of manager, so this switch is an attempt at reclaiming his career. Also, Vienna or Stoke….. which would you prefer to live in?
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