English Premier League is widely considered the home of some of the most exciting football on the planet.
It has revolutionized the sport, transcending the way football is consumed on a global scale. One of the most significant contributors to this phenomenon is the introduction of some of the best footballing talent from around the world.
The league now has an abundance of multinational talent, where teams have sought after and signed players from multiple continents. Africa is being represented more and more, highlighted by the 246 African players who have played in Premier League since its inception.
Even the smaller African nations produce exceptional footballers, who are often exposed to the world during international tournaments. One of these African nations is Ghana which, following an impressive 2010 World Cup, proved their weight in gold as a competitive footballing nation.
Many Ghanaian players have entered Premier League since. Teams continue to realize the scouting potential in Ghana, a rising trend as clubs look to discover the next big thing.
Who are some of the best Ghanaian footballers playing in Premier League?
Let’s take a look at some of the most celebrated Ghanaian stars in EPL:
André Ayew
Ayew has an impressive history playing in Premier League.
His tenure began at Swansea, where Andre made an immediate impact with incredible form across his first four league appearances. He quite impressively managed to score three goals in his first four appearances, highlighting a talent that was later noticed by West Ham United in late 2016.
As a result, he signed for what was at the time a record fee of £20.5 million!
Andre fittingly scored his first club goal against his old team in a 4-1 win against Swansea.
Ayew left West Ham in 2018 having scored 12 goals across 50 appearances. He would later resign with Swansea, where he’s set to feature for the 2019-2020 season.
Andre captains his national team, having scored 15 goals in 84 appearances.
Daniel Amartey
Daniel Amartey is an impressive talent who represents Leicester City FC. He was introduced to the club in early 2016, midway through a historic season where Leicester City shocked the world by becoming Premier League Champions.
This was a phenomenal year to get introduced into the mix, where Daniel was positioned to contribute to one of the most historic underdog achievements in Football history. Before the season started you could get odds on Premier League at 5000-1 for Leicester to win the title!
As a 24-year-old, Daniel is a versatile player renowned for his defensive presence, an attribute which makes him a great defensive and midfield threat.
Amartey featured five times during Leicester’s winning season, but would later assume a more prominent role as a first-team regular. Daniel partners with Danny Drinkwater in a central midfield role, a partnership which has been a solid component of Leicester’s continued success.
Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ Schlupp
A Crystal Palace professional, Jeff Schlupp is an energetic footballer renowned for versatility.
This enables him to play in various roles along the wing, where he can offer speed, athleticism, and courage. Jeffrey’s combination of power and speed is unique. Former teammate Andrej Kramarić stated it was unlike anything he’d ever witnessed before.
These impressive characteristics led to Jeff being signed by Leicester in 2010, where he remained throughout their historic title run.
Schlupp currently represents Crystal Palace, where he signed for £12 million in early 2017.
He has been a consummate professional throughout his football career, utilized as a skillful left-footer.
Born to Ghanaian parents, Jeff was raised in England for the best part of his childhood, but retained his status as a Ghanaian international, representing his nation 15 times.
Christian Atsu
A Newcastle United representative who has established himself as critical to the club’s continued success.
Christian is a winger at heart but has in some situations been used as an attacking midfielder.
Atsu started his professional career at Chelsea FC in 2013, though he was loaned out for the majority of his stay there. When loaned to Newcastle United on a one-year deal in 2016, he entered his debut game as a substitute against Queens Park Rangers. It was a great start for Christian, who immediately made an impact by assisting Mitrović en route to a 6-0 victory.
Atsu continued to play well for Newcastle throughout his ‘trial period’, scoring in multiple games.
This was enough to ink him a permanent deal with the club, who signed Atsu to a four-year £6.2 million contract in mid-2017. Christian has retained a prominent role on the team, remaining a leading figure in Ghanaian football.
He was critical to the success of his national team during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, where Ghana finished as runners-up.