Thomas Partey this week became the sixth Ghanaian midfielder and the second to have featured for Arsenal Football Club in the Premier League club’s history.
The English top-flight league has seen some great talented Ghanaian Midfielders including Chelsea legend Michael Essien and former Portsmouth player Sulley Muntari.
Following Partey’s move to Arsenal, 3Sports takes a look at how the previous 5 Midfielders have fared in the Premier League.
Emmanuel Frimpong
At a young age, Emmanuel Frimpong was promoted from the youth team of Arsenal to their senior team in the 2011-2012 season.
He made his Premier League debut for Arsenal in their match against Newcastle United on August 13, 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Thomas Rosiscky.
Emmanuel Frimpong had disciplinary issues during his stint with Arsenal which affected his performance and game time.
He was subsequently loaned to Wolverhampton Wonderers and Fulham.
In his two years spent in the Premier League, Emmanuel Frimpong appeared 17 times for the three teams he played for and didn’t register a single goal.
Andre Ayew
Andre Ayew joined Swansea City in the Premier League on a free transfer in 2015 and scored in his first three matches against Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester United.
He was named Premier League Player of the Month for August 2015 and also received Swansea’s monthly award the GWFX Player of the Month for August, scoring three goals in his first four league appearances.
On August 8, 2016, Ayew signed for West Ham United for a then club record fee of £20.5 million on a three-year contract.
Ayew’s debut game for West Ham on August 15, 2016 against Chelsea, lasted 35 minutes before he was substituted after sustaining a thigh injury.
The winger played a total of 77 games and scored 21 goals.
Kevin Prince Boateng
Prince Boateng joined Tottenham Hotspurs on a 4-year deal in June, 2007. He was loaned out to Germany the following season.
Kevin returned to the Premier League in 2009 when he signed a 3-year deal with Portsmouth.
He scored his first goal for the club against Bolton Wanderers and was named Portsmouth’s joint Player of the Month.
He played 36 games and scored only three goals.
Sulley Muntari
Sulley Muntari joined Portsmouth for a then club record fee of £7.1 million from Udinese in 2007.
He was a regular member of the first XI throughout the 2007-2008 season, playing 29 League matches and scoring four goals. He had his debut on August 11, 2007 against Derby County in an away game. His performance of note was away at Aston Villa, where he scored two spectacular long-range goals.
Michael Essien
Michael Essien is by far the greatest Ghanain Midfielder to have played in the English Premier League.
Essien joined Chelsea for a then Club record fee of £24.4 million in 2005 from Olympic Lyon. He played 31 league matches in his debut season in England.
He won the English Premier League tittle twice and Chelsea’s player of the year in 2006.
The Defensive Midfielder played 168 matches and scored 17 goals for Chelsea.
By Francis Hema
The writer is with 3Sports
