Kwadwo Baah Explained

Kwadwo Baah
Fullname:Kwadwo Kyeremeh Baah[1]
Birth Date:27 January 2003[2]
Birth Place:Horb am Neckar, Germany
Height:1.83m (06feet)
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Watford
Clubnumber:34
Youthyears1:2012–2013
Youthclubs1:Moonshot
Youthyears2:2013–2017
Youthclubs2:Crystal Palace
Youthyears3:2017–2019
Youthclubs3:Kinetic Academy
Years1:2019
Clubs1:Whyteleafe
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:Rochdale
Caps2:37
Goals2:3
Years3:2021–
Clubs3:Watford
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)
Caps4:7
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:Burton Albion (loan)
Caps5:20
Goals5:2
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:England U18
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021–
Nationalteam2:Germany U19
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:2
Club-Update:12 January 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:21:44, 13 October 2021 (UTC)

Kwadwo Kyeremeh Baah is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Watford.

Early life

Baah was born in Germany to Ghanaian parents, but was raised in South Norwood.[3]

Club career

Early career

In October 2016, aged 13, whilst Baah was at Crystal Palace, he caused controversy as a ball boy in a match against fellow London rivals West Ham United when he tried to stop the opponents time wasting by placing the ball in the six yard area for the goalkeeper Adrián.[4] Baah was released by Crystal Palace at 14. He has credited that moment as a turning point in his development, admitting he didn't take many things seriously and knew he needed to change.[5]

Baah played one game for Whyteleafe in August 2019, who were managed by Kinetic Academy founder Harry Hudson.[6] He also had a trial with Fulham.[7]

Rochdale

On 20 September 2019, at the age of 16, Baah signed to a scholarship contract at Rochdale.[8] Baah made his first team league debut for Rochdale on 1 October, appearing as an 82nd minute substitute for Aaron Wilbraham in an EFL Trophy match at home to Bolton Wanderers.[9]

He scored his first professional goal in a 5–0 win at Wigan Athletic on 15 December 2020.[10] In February 2021, Baah was named EFL Young Player of the Month for January.[11]

Watford

On 1 February 2021, Baah was close to signing a pre-contract agreement with Manchester City,[12] however the deal collapsed.[13] Having undergone a medical with Watford at the end of April and a fee of £125,000 agreed,[14] he officially joined the club on 17 May ahead of their return to the Premier League.[15]

On 13 August 2024, Baah made his debut for Watford in a 5-0 EFL Cup win against MK Dons. He came on as a substitute for Rocco Vata in the 62nd minute and marked his debut by scoring just two minutes later.[16]

Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)

On 29 July 2022, Baah joined 2. Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan for the 2022–23 season.[17]

Burton Albion (loan)

On 18 August 2023, Baah joined EFL League One club Burton Albion on loan for the 2023–24 season.[18]

International career

On 29 March 2021, Baah made his debut for England U18s during a 2–0 win away to Wales at the Leckwith Stadium.[19] He was also called up to take part in an England U19s training camp in May 2021 at St George's Park.[20]

Baah was called up by Germany for the first time to represent their U19 side against Slovakia under-19's on 6 October 2021, followed by games against Portugal and the Netherlands youth squads.[21]

Career statistics

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Whyteleafe2019–20Isthmian League South East Division1000000010
Rochdale2019–20League One7010002[22] 0100
2020–21League One303002020343
Total373102040443
Watford2021–22Premier League0000000000
Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)2022-232. Bundesliga7000000070
Burton Albion (loan)2023–24League One202000010212
Watford2024-25Championship0000110011
Career total655103150746

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Rochdale . 25 September 2020 . English Football League . 59.
  2. Web site: Kwadwo Baah . 26 February 2020 . rochdaleafc.co.uk . Rochdale A.F.C. . 5 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210305161847/https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/teams/first-team/forward/kwadwo-baah/ . dead .
  3. Web site: Aarons . Ed . 21 January 2021 . 'Special talent' Kwadwo Baah making waves at Rochdale after ballboy fame . 22 January 2021 . The Guardian . en.
  4. Web site: 21 October 2016 . Crystal Palace 'punish' ball boy who tried to stop West Ham time-wasting . 26 February 2020 . www.telegraph.co.uk.
  5. Web site: 12 February 2021 . The story of Man City target Kwadwo Baah - from famous ball boy to EFL wonderkid . 18 May 2021 . www.mirror.co.uk.
  6. Web site: Pitt-Brooke . Jack . 20 September 2019 . Kwadwo Baah: The English football prodigy you've probably never heard of . subscription . 21 January 2021 . The Athletic.
  7. Web site: Leventhal . Adam . 17 May 2021 . Watford sign Kwadwo Baah, backflipping England U18s forward who went viral as Palace ballboy . subscription . 18 May 2021 . The Athletic.
  8. Web site: 20 September 2019 . Kwadwo Baah Signs A Two-Year Scholarship . 26 February 2020 . www.rochdaleafc.co.uk.
  9. Web site: Rochdale vs. Bolton Wanderers - 1 October 2019 - Soccerway . 26 February 2020 . uk.soccerway.com.
  10. Web site: 15 December 2020 . Wigan 0-5 Rochdale . 16 December 2020 . BBC Sport.
  11. Web site: 12 February 2021 . Rochdale prodigy wins Young Player of the Month . 18 May 2021 . www.efl.com.
  12. Web site: Aarons . Ed . Manchester City to sign Rochdale's Kwadwo Baah at end of season . 1 February 2021 . 2 February 2021 . The Guardian.
  13. Pye . Freddie . Man City's January move for in-demand winger 'collapsed' at 'medical stage' - player to be back available in summer . 9 March 2021 . 17 May 2021 . Sports Illustrated.
  14. Web site: Kwadwo Baah: Rochdale forward undergoing medical at Watford ahead of proposed move to Vicarage Road . 28 April 2021 . 17 May 2021 . Sky Sports.
  15. Web site: Kwadwo Baah: Watford sign Rochdale forward for 'six-figure fee' . 17 May 2021 . 17 May 2021 . BBC Sport.
  16. Web site: 13 August 2024 . Ince treble helps Watford thrash MK Dons in EFL Cup . BBC Sport.
  17. Web site: Official: Baah Completes Loan Move. www.watfordfc.com. 29 July 2022. 29 July 2022.
  18. Web site: Official: Burton Loan For Baah . 2023-08-18 . www.watfordfc.com . en.
  19. Web site: TWO SECOND-HALF GOALS SEAL WIN FOR ENGLAND MEN'S UNDER-18S OVER WALES IN CARDIFF. TheFA.com. 29 March 2021. 29 March 2021.
  20. Web site: Watford signing Kwadwo Baah gets England Under 19 call. watfordobserver.co.uk. 21 May 2021. 28 September 2021.
  21. Web site: Internationals: Ten Hornets To Represent Their Countries. watfordfc.com. 5 October 2021. 7 October 2021.
  22. Two appearances in EFL Trophy