Geoffrey Acheampong
Personal information
Full name Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong
Date of birth (1997-01-28) January 28, 1997
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 16 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 December 2023

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]

Awards and honors

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. 1 2 "2015 UC Santa Barbara Season Box Score". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  11. 1 2 "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
  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.
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