Joshua Kofi Acheampong[1] (born 5 May 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Chelsea. He has represented England as a youth international at multiple levels.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua Kofi Acheampong[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 May 2006[2] | ||
| Place of birth | London, England[3] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back, centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chelsea | ||
| Number | 34 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2024 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Chelsea | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | England U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | England U17 | 19 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | England U18 | 4 | (0) |
| 2024– | England U19 | 5 | (0) |
| 2024– | England U20 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:14, 17 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editBorn in London, Acheampong is of Ghanaian descent.[4] He first joined Chelsea's academy as an Under-8.[2]
Club career
editOn 3 January 2024, Acheampong signed his first professional contract with Chelsea.[5] Acheampong was included in a match-day squad for the Chelsea men's senior team for the first time on 11 March 2024, being named amongst the substitutes in the Premier League match against Newcastle United;[6] however, he ultimately went unused in that game. On 2 May 2024, three days before his 18th birthday, Acheampong made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute in the 85th minute of a 2–0 Chelsea victory at Stamford Bridge over their London derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.[7]
International career
editIn May 2023, Acheampong was a member of the England under-17 squad that finished fifth at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[8] In November 2023 he was selected to represent England at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and scored a goal in their opening game against New Caledonia.[9][10]
On 4 September 2024, Acheampong made his England U19 debut against Italy in Nedelišće.[11]
On 10 October, Acheampong made his U20 debut during a 2–1 win over Italy in Frosinone.[12]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 24 September 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chelsea | 2023–24[13] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25[14] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
Honours
editChelsea U18s
- Southern Champion: 2023–24
England U18s
References
edit- ^ a b "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Josh Acheampong". Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Josh Acheampong". World Football.net. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Chelsea secure rising star Josh-Kofi Acheampong with first pro contract". Ghana Soccernet. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Acheampong signs professional contract". Chelsea F.C. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle United". Chelsea F.C. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Burnton, Simon (2 May 2024). "Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Veevers, Nicholas (17 May 2023). "England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals". England Football. The Football Association. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Smith, Frank (2 November 2023). "England squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup". England Football. The Football Association. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "England v New Caledonia". ESPN. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2024). "Report: England MU19s 2-2 Italy". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Vassell, Zac (10 October 2024). "Report: England Men's ELS 2-1 Italy". England Football. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Josh Acheampong in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Josh Acheampong in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.