Barca land Ghanaian wonderkid, Afena-Gyan seeks survival at Juventus

THE young Ghanaian talents, David Oduro and Felix Afena-Gyan, grabbed the headlines at the weekend as the European summer transfer window shut, with Oduro securing a dream switch to FC Barcelona and Afena-Gyan embarking on a new journey with Juventus, hoping to reignite his career.

While Oduro’s move to Barcelona was expected, Afena-Gyan’s transfer to Juventus on a season-long loan from Cremonese caught many by surprise.

The 20-year-old forward, who once showed immense promise at AS Roma, has seen his career stall in recent times.

However, this move to the Bianconeri offers him a golden opportunity to reignite his form to prove his doubters wrong and catch the eye of Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, once again.

At just 18 years old, Oduro's meteoric rise has been nothing short of sensational.

The young left-back has inked a three-year deal that will keep him at the Catalan club until June 2027.

This move marks a significant leap for Oduro, who has been turning heads in the Ghanaian Premier League with Accra Lions.

Oduro, who emerged from the youth ranks of Accra Lions, has been a revelation in Ghana’s top flight, notching up 50 appearances in the Ghana Premier League and contributing one goal and six assists.

His pace, ability to link up with teammates, and penchant for joining the attack have drawn comparisons to some of Europe’s elite defenders.

Chelsea had also been in the race for his signature but Barcelona swooped in to secure the talented left-back, making it two summers in a row where they have outmanoeuvred English Premier League clubs for the second summer running, securing yet another African prodigy.

Oduro is set to join Barcelona Atlètic, the club's reserve team, where he will continue his development under the watchful eyes of La Masia’s coaches. His aspirations are high—he has already expressed a desire to emulate Alejandro Balde, Barcelona’s current first-team left-back.

While the young defender is the first Ghanaian to join the Spanish giants directly from a Ghanaian club, former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng had a brief stint with the Blaugrana on loan in 2019.

Afena-Gyan’s second chance

Afena-Gyan’s journey has been one of highs and lows. After breaking into the AS Roma first team and making 48 appearances, his move to Cremonese in 2022 saw him struggling to maintain his early momentum.

Now, at Italian giants Juventus, the forward has a chance to showcase his talents on a much bigger stage. 

Though his exact role at Juventus remains uncertain, with some speculating that he may feature more for the youth side, the striker remains optimistic about his future in Turin.

Taking to social media, Afena-Gyan expressed his excitement, tweeting, "It's an honour to join the Bianconeri. So grateful for the opportunity @juventusfc. Can't wait to put on the jersey."

His determination to make the most of this move is evident, and if he can find his form, Juventus might have a gem on their hands.

Another significant move saw Salis Abdul Samed, the versatile midfielder from RC Lens, make his way to Sunderland on a season-long loan.

Sidelined from Lens’ main squad and relegated to training with the reserves, he found a lifeline in Sunderland.

The 24-year-old Ghana international was crucial in Lens’ second-place finish in Ligue 1 last season but now has a chance to prove himself in the English Championship.

Kristjaan Speakman, Sunderland’s Sporting Director, could not hide his excitement about the acquisition, stating, “Salis is a disciplined defensive midfielder with a unique profile that will add depth to our midfield.

His experiences in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League will be invaluable as he adapts to English football.”

Fresh start for Adams

Another Ghanaian international, Kasim Adams, made a move back to Switzerland after joining Swiss topflight side FC Servette after leaving German Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim as a free agent.

Adams, who previously enjoyed success in Switzerland with BSC Young Boys in 2016, returns to familiar territory.

However, his European ambitions took a hit as FC Servette narrowly lost 3-2 on aggregate to Chelsea in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

With European competition out of reach, the towering centre-back will now focus on domestic challenges as he aims to fortify Servette’s backline and also work his way back into the Black Stars where he has struggled to hold down a regular place in the team.