Valletta FC have secured the services of two promising talents ahead of the 2025/26 Malta Premier League season: Yannick Yankam and Matthias Ellul — both players with prior experience at top-tier Maltese clubs.
Yannick Yankam, a product of Qormi FC’s youth system, made his Premier League debut with Birkirkara FC in the 2019/20 season. In January 2024, he signed for Lexington SC, a U.S.-based club. Yankam made 89 appearances for Qormi, scoring 9 goals, and went on to represent Birkirkara 90 times, finding the net 10 times between 2019 and December 2023. During his stint in the U.S., the attacking midfielder played 17 matches and scored twice for Lexington. Valletta had initiated talks with the player after it had emerged that the player was considering a returning on home soil.
Meanwhile, Valletta FC are also believed to have reached a long-term agreement with former Malta U21 international Matthias Ellul, reportedly including personal terms. Sources close to Ħamrun Spartans revealed that Ellul’s representative successfully activated a release clause in his contract, paving the way for his move to Valletta. He is expected to be a versatile option for head coach Thane Micallef, capable of featuring either as a left-back in a traditional back-four or as an attacking wing-back in a 3-5-2 setup.
Ellul emerged from the St. Andrews FC academy and was transferred to Santa Lucia following a request from then-head coach Alessandro Zinnari, who had worked with him in the Malta U21 national team. Zinnari later brought Ellul to Ħamrun Spartans, but the player saw limited playing time following Zinnari’s departure and the appointment of Winston Muscat as head coach.
Valletta FC have yet to officially confirm the transfers or disclose the duration of the contracts.
