Omari Forson

Omari Forson
Personal information
Full name Omari Nathan Forson[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-20) 20 July 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Hammersmith, London, England
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 Monza
Number 20
Youth career
West Ham United
0000–2019 Tottenham Hotspur
2019–2023 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Manchester United 4 (0)
2024– Monza 2 (0)
International career‡
2019 England U15 4 (0)
2019 England U16 4 (0)
2022–2023 England U19 5 (2)
2023– England U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:48, 8 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:48, 8 November 2024 (UTC)

Omari Nathan Forson (born 20 July 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Serie A club Monza. He previously came through the youth academy at Manchester United.[3][4]

Early life

Forson was born in Hammersmith, London to Ghanaian parents.[5][6]

Club career

Manchester United

Having begun his career in the academies of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, Forson joined Manchester United in January 2019.[7] Following interest from Arsenal, Forson decided to remain with Manchester United, signing a scholarship deal in 2020.[8] The same year, he was promoted to the under-18 side at the age of sixteen, and in August 2021, he signed his first professional deal with the club.[5][9]

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Forson was included in Manchester United's senior squad for pre-season, travelling to Oslo, Norway, where he featured in a 2–0 friendly win against Leeds United.[3] Playing the entire first half at left-wing, Forson was noted for his ability to take on players, and was labelled a "constant threat".[10] He was included in Manchester United's tour of the United States, and having been named in the starting line-up for the friendly game against German side Borussia Dortmund, he was taken off by manager Erik ten Hag after only thirty-seven minutes, following a confrontation with Dortmund winger, Karim Adeyemi, for which both received yellow cards.[11] Following the game, Ten Hag explained that if the game had featured VAR, Forson may have been sent off, and that he had spent time explaining his decision to the player following the substitution.[11]

He made his first-team debut in a 2–0 away win against Wigan in the 2023–24 FA Cup. He made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a 4–3 away win against Wolves, in which he registered an assist for Kobbie Mainoo's late winner. With his contract due to expire at the end of the 2023–24 season, Forson was named in the club's Retained list for 2024–25 and offered a new deal.[12]

Monza

On 11 June 2024, ahead of the expiration of his contract with Manchester United, Forson agreed to join Serie A side Monza on a free transfer, signing a four-year deal running until the end of June 2028.[13]

International career

Forson is eligible to represent England or Ghana at international level.[14] He has played youth international football for England at under-15, under-16, under-19 and under-20 levels.[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 May 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United U21 2021–22 — — — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2022–23 — — — — — 3[a] 1 3 1
2023–24 — — — — — 2[a] 2 2 2
Total — — — — 6 3 6 3
Manchester United 2023–24 Premier League 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 — 7 0
Monza 2024–25 Serie A 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 3 0
Career total 6 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 6 3 16 3
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Manchester United U18

References

  1. ^ "2022/23 Premier League squads confirmed". premierleague.com. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Omari Forson". tntsports.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b Freeman, Will (11 July 2023). "Who is Omari Forson? Manchester United youngster handed a start against Leeds United". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  4. ^ "3 young wingers Ipswich Town should eye up on loan amid recent Chelsea rumours". the72.co.uk. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b Ayamga, Emmanuel (9 August 2021). "Omari Forson: Ghanaian teenager signs professional contract with Manchester United". pulse.com.gh. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  6. ^ Lee, Michael (23 February 2023). "Man Utd starlet Omari Forson & an inspired hat-trick that hints at future greatness". uk.sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  7. ^ Dawes, Olly (24 December 2019). "Report: Arsenal targeting deal for Omari Forson". hitc.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. ^ Barry, Coral (30 April 2020). "Omari Forson to snub Arsenal transfer interest and sign pro contract with Manchester United". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ^ "English-born Ghanaian winger Omari Forson ready to shine at Manchester United". footballghana.com. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. ^ Delrand, Nii (13 July 2023). "Ghanaian forward Omari Forson shines in Manchester United's first pre-season game". sportsworldghana.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b Bayliss, Jake (1 August 2023). "Manchester United squad show Omari Forson role after key Erik ten Hag instruction". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Man Utd announce official list of retained and released players". ManUtd.com. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Man Utd teenager Forson to join Serie A side Monza". BBC Sport. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Ghana's Omari Forson bags brace in Man United's win over Galatasaray in UEFA Youth League". ghanaweb.com. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Omari Forson's matches". besoccer.com. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  16. ^ Omari Forson at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Man Utd 3-1 Nottingham Forest: Home side clinch FA Youth Cup in front of record crowd at Old Trafford". Sky Sports. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.