Geoffrey Acheampong

Geoffrey Acheampong
Personal information
Full name Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong
Date of birth (1997-01-28) January 28, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Sunyani, Ghana
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sliema Wanderers
Number 33
Youth career
Cate School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 22 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Bastia 2 (0)
2016–2017 → Bastia II (loan) 11 (1)
2017 Veracruz 0 (0)
2018–2019 LA Galaxy II 36 (5)
2020 AC Kajaani 17 (7)
2021 Elmina Sharks 15 (0)
2021 RoPS 14 (3)
2022 Mosta FC 25 (2)
2023– Sliema Wanderers 31 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 October 2024

Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong (born January 28, 1997) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who currently plays for Sliema Wanderers in the Maltese Premier League.[1]

Early life and education

Acheampong was born in Sunyani, Ghana, on January 28, 1997, to Alice and Henry Acheampong.[2][3] He was a part of the Right to Dream Academy and would ultimately move to the United States.[4] He played high school soccer at Cate School in Carpinteria, California, and made worldwide headlines with a goal scored from a distance of 60 yards.[5][6]

A highly touted prep, Acheampong was rated as the 24th-best collegiate soccer prospect in the class of 2015.[7] He continued his soccer career and announced his intention to enroll at the University of California, Santa Barbara.[8][9] In his only year with the Gauchos, Acheampong made 22 appearances and scored 3 goals.[10] Playing alongside Nick DePuy, the 10 assists he recorded were the highest on the team.[10] The Big West Conference announced Acheampong as the 2015 Freshman of the Year.[11] Despite having played only one year, he was already being highly considered as a top Major League Soccer prospect.[12] He left school after his first season with the Gauchos to pursue a professional soccer career.

Professional career

In June 2016, it was announced that Acheampong had signed with SC Bastia of Ligue 1.[13][14] On September 18, 2016, Acheampong made his professional debut upon entering as a substitute for Allan Saint-Maximin in a match against AS Saint-Étienne.[15][16]

Acheampong signed with Veracruz for the 2017–18 Liga MX season.[17][18]

On March 1, 2018, it was announced that Acheampong had signed with LA Galaxy II.[19]

In June 2020, Acheampong moved to Finnish Ykkönen side AC Kajaani.[20] He made his debut for Kajaani on 27 June 2020 against FF Jaro, where he scored both goals in a 2–2 draw.[21]

In March 2021, Acheampong signed with Ghana Premier League side Elmina Sharks as a free agent.

In July 2021, Acheampong returned to Finland for Veikkausliiga club Rovaniemen Palloseura.[22][23]

In 2022, Acheampong continued his journey in Malta and spent one season with Mosta F.C. before joining Sliema Wanderers F.C. He was named MFPA Men's Best XI following the 2023–24 Maltese Premier League season.[24]

Awards and honors

Club

Individual

References

  1. ^ Geoffrey Acheampong at Soccerway
  2. ^ "Geoffrey Acheampong Player Profile – ESPN FC". ESPN FC. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Geoffrey Acheampong – UC Santa Barbara". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  4. ^ Bouillon, Sophie (15 July 2016). "Football and education are the goals at Ghana's Right to Dream Academy". www.AWorldAtSchool.org. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  5. ^ Corless, Liam (12 February 2015). "Watch spectacular goal as US high school student scores from his own half". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  6. ^ Foss, Mike (13 February 2015). "High school soccer player scores insane goal from midfield". USA Today. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Class of 2015 (High School Seniors)". www.CollegeSoccerNews.com. 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Top 25 Rankings, Youth National Team Players Highlight Signing Day". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  9. ^ Eskilson, J.R. (16 June 2014). "Boys Commitments: UCSB lands local HS star". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  10. ^ a b "2015 UC Santa Barbara Season Box Score". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Big West Unveils 2015 Men's Soccer All-Conference Team" (PDF). Big West Conference. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  12. ^ Kennedy, Paul (19 November 2015). "Top MLS prospects to watch in NCAA Men's Tournament". Soccer America. Oakland, California. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  13. ^ Darkwah, Frank (30 June 2016). "Ghana youngster Geoffrey Acheampong signs for French side FC Bastia". GhanaSportsOnline.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  14. ^ Dove, Ed (30 June 2016). "Boateng, de Jong celebrate Acheampong contract". Goal.com. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  15. ^ "St Etienne 1 FT 0 Bastia". ESPN FC. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  16. ^ "Saint-Étienne veut se lancer Bastia souhaite confirmer". La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest (in French). Tours. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  17. ^ Morales, Jesús (7 September 2017). "¡El africano Geoffrey Acheampong llegaría al Tiburón!". www.xeudeportes.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Registra Veracruz al ghanés Acheampong". www.mediotiempo.com (in Spanish). 6 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  19. ^ "LA Galaxy II sign midfielder Geoffrey Acheampong". LAGalaxy.com. LA Galaxy Communications. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  20. ^ "AC Kajaani". Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Kajaani vs. Jaro - 27 June 2020 - Soccerway".
  22. ^ "Ghanalainen Geoffrey Acheampong siirtyy Rovaniemen Palloseuraan – "Hän tietää mihin on tulossa"". Lapin Kansa (in Finnish). Lapland. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  23. ^ Pikkupeura, Pasi (15 July 2021). "Keskikenttäpelaaja Geoffrey Acheampong siirtyy Rovaniemen Palloseuraan". Rovaniemen Palloseura (in Finnish). Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Final nominees for MFPA Awards 2024 announced". maltafootball.com. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.