Chicago Fire Sign Striker David Accam as Designated Player
Ghanaian striker Accam moves to Chicago from Swedish side Helsingborgs IF. The 24-year-old will fill Chicago's second designated player slot.
On Friday, the Chicago Fire announced the transfer of Ghanaian striker David Accam to a designated player contract from Helsingborgs IF. Accam fills Chicago's second DP slot following yesterday's transfer of Juan Luis Anangano to Universidad de Guadalajara.
Coming into the offseason, the Fire were widely rumored to be in the market for attacking talent, and in the last two weeks they have signed two strikers to DP contracts. Accam will join last season's leading scorer Quincy Amarikwa, 2013 MLS MVP Mike Magee, 2014 MLS Rookie of the Year Finalist Harry Shipp and fellow new designated player Kennedy Igboananike in attack.
It was clear that Chicago needed to strengthen the offense in the offseason. Last term they scored just 41 goals, and Magee was injured for large swathes of the season. However, should they remain healthy they look like they'll be one of the most potent attacks in MLS.
In comments made to the Chicago Fire's official website, manager Frank Yallop said: "David is an exciting, creative player with a goal-scoring mentality. I’m pleased that David will be joining the Fire. He’s a key piece as we continue to build a deep squad in preparation for the 2015 season and we’re looking forward to having him on our team."
Accam will bring a proven goal threat, as he scored 30 goals for Helsingborgs IF in 62 matches over the last two seasons. In addition to his contributions in the Swedish Allsvenskan, Accam scored eight goals in 11 Swedish Cup appearances and appeared twice in the UEFA Champions League and six times in the UEFA Europa League.
Accam's journey to professional football has not been an easy one. In his native Ghana he attended the Right to Dream Academy before earning an academic scholarship to Hartpury College in England. After that, he spent time in non-league English football, representing Ledbury Town and Evesham United before signing with Swedish 3rd division side Östersunds FK. After making a name for himself in Sweden, he was quickly snapped up by Helsingborgs. In 2013, he received a call-up to the Ghanaian National Team, although he did not earn a cap. Accam will be hoping to continue his rapid ascent with the Men in Red.
David Accam
David Accam (born 28 September 1990) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.
Career
Club career
Ghana
Accam did not belong to a club during the first twelve years of his life. He instead spent his time playing with friends on gravel pitches in the parks of Accra. There he was spotted by a scout from Ghana-based Right to Dream Academy where he would spend four years.[1]
England
In 2008 Accam received a three year scholarship to study at Hartpury College in England.[1] He combined his time there with playing in the English lower leagues. After signing for English club Ledbury Town, Accam scored on his debut in December 2009.[2]He then played for English club Evesham United during the 2010–11 season while also featuring in the reserve team squad atForest Green Rovers. The fact that Accam was in England on a student visa prevented him from playing for their first team, or any club in a higher division.[3]
After his time at Evesham United he took part in the Nike "The Chance" competition where he was one of eight winners who got to spend the 2011–2012 season with Nike Football Academy.[4]
Sweden
In March 2012 Accam signed for Swedish third tier side Östersund.[5] English manager Graham Potter was in charge of the club and he had already signed two other Ghanaians who were studying with Accam at Hartpury College. And after scouting him at the Nike Academy he brought Accam with him back to Sweden.[6] Accam became an immediate success with his new team and several Allsvenskan clubs became interested in signing him for the summer transfer window.[7]
Accam was then signed by Allsvenskan club Helsingborg in August 2012, and was due to be loaned back to Östersund for the remainder of the season, but was recalled by Helsingborg for an upcoming Champions League qualifying match against Celtic.[8][9] The 2 million SEK transfer fee paid by Helsingborg was the highest ever for a player from the Swedish third tier.[1]
After scoring seventeen goals in twenty-six appearance, it announced that Accam will be leaving Helsingborg to pursue elsewhere.[10] After he made the announcement, Accam was linked with a move away from Tigres,[11] Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart,[12] a numbers of English clubs[13] and CSKA Moscow.[14] Accam rejected a move to CSKA Moscow, having insisted that Accam hadn't made talks with the club.[15]
United States
Despite denying the move have been confirmed,[16] Accam signed as a designated player with Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer on 19 December 2014.[17] The moved to be believed an undisclosed fee, having subjected to an international clearance.[18]
International career
Accam received his first call-up to the Ghana national team for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Sudan on 24 March 2013, in which he was an unused substitute.[19][20]
On 12 May 2014, Accam was named in a provisional 26-man squad in the 2014 FIFA World Cup by Ghana manager James Kwesi Appiah.[21] However, on 2 June 2014, Accam was left out of the World Cup squad. Accam expressed his disappointment of being dropped for the World Cup squad.[22]
He was selected as part of Ghana's preliminary squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.[23]
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 September 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 81⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team
| Chicago Fire | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2008 | Right to Dream Academy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2009–2010 | Ledbury Town | 8 | (5) |
| 2010–2011 | Evesham United | 20 | (10) |
| 2012 | Östersund | 13 | (8) |
| 2012–2014 | Helsingborg | 62 | (30) |
| 2015– | Chicago Fire | 0 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 December 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário