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Josh Acheampong

Josh Acheampong
Personal information
Full name Joshua Kofi Acheampong[1]
Date of birth (2006-05-05) 5 May 2006 (age 18)[2]
Place of birth London, England[3]
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.90 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 3 (0)
International career‡
2022 England U16 3 (0)
2022–2023 England U17 19 (1)
2023–2024 England U18 4 (0)
2024– England U19 6 (0)
2024– England U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 January 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:36, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

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.

Early life

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Born in London, Acheampong is of Ghanaian descent.[4] He first joined the Chelsea academy as an Under-8.[2]

Club career

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On 3 January 2024, Acheampong signed his first professional contract with Chelsea.[5] On 11 March 2024, Acheampong was named in the Chelsea first team squad in the Premier League match against Newcastle United but remained an unused substitute[6] 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]

Following a period of time away from the first team due to problems regarding the extension his contract, he made his full debut against FC Astana on 12 December 2024 in the UEFA Conference League.[8][9] On 18 December, Chelsea announced that they have reached an agreement to extend Acheampong's contract to June 2029.[10] On 4 January 2025, Acheampong made his first Premier League start against London rivals Crystal Palace, with the match ending 1–1 wherein the Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca hailed him as the best player on the pitch.[11]

International career

[edit]

In May 2023, Acheampong was a member of the England under-17 squad that finished fifth at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[12] 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.[13][14]

On 4 September 2024, Acheampong made his England U19 debut against Italy in Nedelišće.[15]

On 10 October, Acheampong made his U20 debut during a 2–1 win over Italy in Frosinone.[16]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 14 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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[17] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 — — 1 0
2024–25[18] Premier League 2 0 0 0 1 0 2[a] 0 0 0 5 0
Career total 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 6 0
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

Honours

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Chelsea U18s

England U18s

References

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  1. ^ a b "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Josh Acheampong". Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Josh Acheampong". World Football.net. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Chelsea secure rising star Josh-Kofi Acheampong with first pro contract". Ghana Soccernet. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Acheampong signs professional contract". Chelsea F.C. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle United". Chelsea F.C. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  7. ^ Burnton, Simon (2 May 2024). "Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  8. ^ Marsh, Dan (2024-10-23). "Maresca can't hide true feelings after Chelsea youngster is brutally frozen out". The Mirror. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  9. ^ "Match report: Astana 1-3 Chelsea". Chelsea F.C. 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  10. ^ "Josh Acheampong signs new Chelsea contract". Chelsea F.C. 2024-12-18. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  11. ^ "Maresca: Acheampong was the best player on the pitch". Premier League. 2025-01-04. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  12. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (17 May 2023). "England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals". England Football. The Football Association. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  13. ^ Smith, Frank (2 November 2023). "England squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup". England Football. The Football Association. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  14. ^ "England v New Caledonia". ESPN. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  15. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2024). "Report: England MU19s 2-2 Italy". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  16. ^ Vassell, Zac (10 October 2024). "Report: England Men's ELS 2-1 Italy". England Football. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Games played by Josh Acheampong in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Games played by Josh Acheampong in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.