Baah joins Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls have completed the transfer of Ghanaian central defender Gideon Baah from Finnish side Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (HJK Helsinki), the Major League Soccer (MLS) club announced last Tuesday.

Baah, 24, who made his international debut for Ghana last and Europa League, and brings to the club experience in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. He joins compatriot Lloyd Sam — who also made his Ghana debut against Canada at the RFK Stadium on October 13 — and could be in line for his MLS debut on March 6 when Red Bulls play host to Toronto FC at the Red Bull Arena.

“Gideon has all the characteristics we were looking for in a central defender,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Ali Curtis. “He fits our style of play extremely well and we are anxious to have him get started with our club.”

Baah’s professional career began in Ghana’s Premier League with Kumasi Asante Kotoko, having been discovered in 2007 at the Areeba Sports Academy as the maiden winner of Metro TV’s football reality show. Three years ago, he joined Finnish top flight side FC Honka and after impressing in his first season, FC Honka signed him on a permanent deal during which he featured in Europa League qualifying.

He moved to HJK Helsinki in 2014 and appeared in four UEFA Champions League qualification matches for HJK last summer, recording one goal and one assist.​

The youngster has 70 appearances in the Finnish league (Veikkausliiga) over the last three seasons, scoring four goals with seven assists.

He won the Finnish Cup in 2014 with HJK.