Despite rumored interest from Championship rivals Stoke City, Bristol City forward Fally Mayulu was loaned to Austrian Bundesliga team Sturm Graz till the end of the season.

Mayulu, who only joined the Robins in July, has only made three Championship appearances since leaving Rapid Wien, a transfer that is thought to have cost close to £2.5 million.

Many may be surprised by the temporary agreement, as the Potters reportedly submitted a £2.5 million offer to acquire Mayulu permanently. He appeared surplus to needs in Liam Manning’s play-off-chasing team this season following a series of cameo appearances.

Fally Mayulu completes temporary Bristol City exit amid Stoke City interest

It is reasonable to infer that the 6′ 4in forward was anticipated to be Ashton Gate’s starting striker this season given that he arrived for a seven-figure fee and was given the number nine shirt.

The 22-year-old’s start to life at Bristol City couldn’t have gone better, as he scored from the bench in each of his first two Robins games. But these are still his only two goals for the South West team.

The Frenchman has played just 32 league minutes since the turn of the year, having not even made the bench in the Cider Army’s last three matches, and after failing to displace 34-year-old Nahki Wells, it has become increasingly apparent that the young striker was to be, at least for this season, a largely peripheral member of the squad. The interest from Stoke was perplexing for supporters on both sides, with The Mirror’s Dan Marsh reporting earlier in the week that a £2.5 million offer had been tabled by the Staffordshire outfit.

But the Potters’ loan signing of Iraqi forward Ali Al-Hamadi from Ipswich Town and the skill of young player Nathan Lowe appear to have put a stop to further recruitment in that area, so there’s no real need to bring Mayulu on board. As it happens, though, they’ve already lost out on him.

Austria return for Fally Mayulu could be best for all parties involved in saga

After spending the previous season with Rapid Wein in the capital and BW Linz, with whom he earned a second-tier promotion in 2023 and scored 11 goals, Mayulu is returning to Austria, a place he is familiar with.

But possibly the best of the lot are the new temporary employers Sturm Graz, who are atop the table at precisely halfway through the season and on track to win the Austrian Bundesliga for a second consecutive year.

Although they have lost six of their last seven games, the Blacks, commonly known as Die Schwoazn, are certain to be ousted this Wednesday from the UEFA Champions League.

After losing former Arsenal forward Mika Biereth to Monaco, they, however, have needed a new striker, and Mayulu appears to be a short-term solution.

Mayulu’s career with Bristol City isn’t definitely done, but if he wants to revitalize himself before 2025–2026—whether in England or somewhere else—he needs to make an impression during his six-month stay in the Styrian capital.