Super League Greece club PAOK have confirmed the acquisition of striker Mbwana Samatta from Fenerbahce.
The 30-year-old Samatta signed a two-year deal to land in Greece after terminating his contract with the Turkish side. “PAOK announces the acquisition of Mbwana Samatta,” read a statement on their official website, adding: “The Tanzanian forward recently terminated his contract with Fenerbahce and has signed a deal with the Eagle for two years with the option of adding a third and he will wear the number 33 jersey.”
Samatta was a key figure during TP Mazembe’s run to the final of the 2015 Caf Champions League, scoring seven goals in the process and finishing as the competition’s top scorer. In their group stage match against Moghreb Tetouan, Samatta scored a memorable hat-trick to secure a place in the semi-finals where they were drawn against Sudanese side Al-Merrikh SC.
In January 2016, after winning the prize for best African player on the continent, he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with KRC Genk. During the 2018-19 season, he led the Belgian First Division A in scoring with 20 goals, as Genk finished the season as league winners.
In May 2019, he was awarded the Ebony Shoe Award for his exploits during the campaign. On January 20, 2020, Samatta signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Premier League club Aston Villa and in doing so, became the first Tanzanian to sign for a Premier League club, and is the 117th different nationality to play in the competition.
On September 25, 2020, Samatta joined Fenerbahce on an initial loan deal until the end of the season and as part of the deal, the Taifa Stars captain signed a four-year contract at the end of his loan spell in July 2021.