Tariqe Fosu Explained

Tariqe Fosu
Fullname:Tariqe Kumahl Malachi Akwesi Fosu[1]
Birth Date:5 November 1995
Birth Place:Wandsworth, England
Height:1.80m[2]
Position:Left winger, attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Northampton Town
Clubnumber:24
Youthyears1:2004–2014
Youthclubs1:Reading
Years1:2014–2017
Clubs1:Reading
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Fleetwood Town (loan)
Caps2:6
Goals2:1
Years3:2016
Clubs3:Accrington Stanley (loan)
Caps3:8
Goals3:3
Years4:2016–2017
Clubs4:Colchester United (loan)
Caps4:33
Goals4:5
Years5:2017–2019
Clubs5:Charlton Athletic
Caps5:57
Goals5:11
Years6:2019–2020
Clubs6:Oxford United
Caps6:25
Goals6:8
Years7:2020–2023
Clubs7:Brentford
Caps7:50
Goals7:5
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:Stoke City (loan)
Caps8:20
Goals8:0
Years9:2023
Clubs9:Rotherham United (loan)
Caps9:19
Goals9:1
Years10:2024–
Clubs10:Northampton Town
Caps10:2
Goals10:0
Club-Update:11:07, 18 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:England U18
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2020–
Nationalteam2:Ghana
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalteam-Update:17:54, 15 October 2022 (UTC)

Tariqe Kumahl Malachi Akwesi Fosu (born 5 November 1995), sometimes known as Tariqe Fosu-Henry, is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger for club Northampton Town. He plays for the Ghana national team at international level.

A product of the Reading academy, Fosu rose to prominence at Charlton Athletic and Oxford United, before transferring to Brentford in January 2020. After a -year spell and then a year out of football, he transferred to Northampton Town in 2024. Fosu was capped by England at U18 level and made his senior international debut for Ghana in October 2020.

Club career

Reading

A left winger or attacking midfielder, Fosu began his career in the Reading academy at the age of 9 in 2004 and progressed to be awarded a scholarship at the end of the 2011–12 season.[3] [4] He was involved in numerous successes with the Royals' U18 and U21 teams and signed a professional contract during the 2013–14 season.[5] [6] Fosu was named in the first team squad on three occasions during the 2014–15 season and made his debut on the final day, as a substitute for Jack Stacey after 30 minutes of a 3–0 victory over Derby County.

Fosu signed a new two-year contract on 26 June 2015,[7] but spent much of his subsequent Reading career with the U21 team or away on loan.[8] He moved to League One club Fleetwood Town on loan until 2 January 2016.[9] He made 7 appearances and scored his first senior goal during his spell, which came in a 5–1 victory over Swindon Town on 21 November. Fosu's November 2015 performances saw him long-listed for the PFA Fans' League One Player of the Month award.[10] [11] On 24 March 2016, Fosu joined promotion-chasing League Two club Accrington Stanley on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[12] He made 8 appearances, scored three goals and was part of the team that was defeated by AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-off semi-finals.[13] Fosu's performances during April 2016 won him the League Two Player of the Month award.[14]

On 31 August 2016, Fosu joined League One Colchester United on a half-season loan,[15] which was subsequently extended until the end of the 2016–17 season.[16] He made 34 appearances and scored six goals for the club. At the end of the 2016–17 season, Fosu turned down a new contract and transferred away from the Madejski Stadium.

Charlton Athletic

On 19 June 2017, Fosu joined League One club Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed nominal fee and signed a two-year contract,[17] effective 1 July 2017.[18] He had two successful seasons with the Addicks, scoring a perfect hat-trick (right foot, left foot and head) against former club Fleetwood Town on 30 September 2017.[19] Fosu finished the 2017–18 season as the club's second-leading scorer and helped the club to two play-off finishes, though he missed the successful 2019 play-off campaign due to a hamstring injury.[20] He turned down a new contract and departed the club when it expired at the end of the 2018–19 season.[21] [22] During two seasons at The Valley, Fosu made 65 appearances and scored 11 goals.

Oxford United

On 1 July 2019, Fosu reunited with his former Charlton Athletic manager Karl Robinson at League One club Oxford United and signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[23] During the first half of the 2019–20 season, he scored 10 goals in 33 appearances and won the October 2019 PFA Fans' League One Player of the Month award.[24] Fosu transferred away from the Kassam Stadium on the final day of the January 2020 transfer window.

Brentford

2020–2021

On 31 January 2020, Fosu transferred to Championship club Brentford,[25] after the £750,000 release clause in his Oxford United contract was activated.[26] He signed a -year contract and made 11 appearances and scored one goal during the remainder of the 2019–20 season, which ended with defeat in the 2020 Championship play-off final.[27]

Fosu began the 2020–21 season predominantly as a substitute in league matches, before breaking into the starting lineup in late-November 2020. He scored his first goal of the season with the winner in a 2–1 victory over Bournemouth on 30 December. Fosu's performances and two goals in three league matches in January 2021 saw him nominated for the PFA Fans' Championship Player of the Month award.[28] He finished Brentford's 2021 Championship play-off final-winning 2020–21 season with 49 appearances and four goals.

2021–22

Despite featuring in all but one of Brentford's 2021–22 pre-season friendlies.[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] a move away on loan for Fosu fell through late in the summer transfer window.[35] Despite being named in the club's 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the regular season, he was largely frozen out of the matchday squads in all competitions.[36] Prior to undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury suffered during training in November 2021,[37] [38] Fosu had been restricted to two EFL Cup appearances. Fosu returned to training in mid-January 2022 and after a loan move failed to materialise during the winter transfer window,[39] he remained part of the club's 25-man Premier League squad during the second half of the 2021–22 season.[40] On 20 March, Fosu was named in a Premier League squad for only the second time in the season and made his first league appearance for 10 months as a substitute for Rico Henry after 74 minutes of a 2–1 defeat to Leicester City. He remained an unused substitute during six further league matches and did not appear again before the end of the 2021–22 season.

2022–23 and loans

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Fosu was not called into Brentford's pre-season training camp in Germany and only appeared in two B team friendlies.[41] [42] He was not issued a squad number and entering the final year of his contract,[43] [44] he joined Championship club Stoke City on a season-long loan on 16 August 2022.[45] Fosu immediately assumed a starting role and his October 2022 performances were recognised with the club's Player of the Month award.[46] He made 20 appearances prior to being dropped to the bench at the turn of the year.[47] On 20 January 2023, Fosu was recalled from the loan and immediately sent to Championship club Rotherham United on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[48] He made 19 appearances and scored one goal during his spell. Fosu was released by Brentford when his contract expired and finished his career with the club on 63 appearances and five goals.[49]

Free agent

In August 2023, Fosu seemed set to transfer to Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor,[50] but the move did not materialise.[51] After trialling with Charlotte FC and then training with former club Charlton Athletic in early 2024,[52] he remained a free agent during the 2023–24 season.[53]

Northampton Town

On 9 August 2024, Fosu signed a one-year contract with League One club Northampton Town on a free transfer.

International career

Fosu was capped by England at U18 level. He was called up to the Ghana squad for two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March 2020, which were later postponed.[54] Fosu made his first appearances for the team with starts in friendlies versus Mali and Qatar in October 2020 and he scored his first international goal in the latter match, with the opener in a 5–1 victory. Following appearances in a pair of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers versus Sudan in November 2020, Fosu was removed from a training camp prior to a pair of friendly matches in June 2021.[55]

Style of play

An attacking player,[56] Fosu has been described as "most comfortable on the left side of a three, he isn't a flying winger, but one who can call upon quick feet and an eye for goal to hurt the opposition. More likely to cut in from wide and shoot rather than get a ball in from the byline". Following his deployment as a right back for Ghana in October 2020,[57] he gained further experience in the same position with Brentford during the 2020–21 season.[58] [59] [60]

Personal life

Fosu is of Ghanaian descent.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading2014–15Championship10000010
2015–16Championship00000000
2016–17Championship00000000
Total1000000010
Reading U212016–171010
Fleetwood Town (loan)2015–16League One611071
Accrington Stanley (loan)2015–16League Two831[61] 093
Colchester United (loan)2016–17League Two3351100346
Charlton Athletic2017–18League One30910103[62] 0359
2018–19League One272200010302
Total5711301040!6511
Oxford United2019–20League One25841311[63] 03310
Brentford2019–20Championship1011[64] 0111
2020–21Championship394206020494
2021–22Premier League10002030
2022–23Premier League00000000
Total505208030635
Stoke City (loan)2022–23Championship20000200
Rotherham United (loan)2022–23Championship191191
Northampton Town2024–25League One2000100030
Career total2213410213111025537

International

Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fosu goal.

Honours

Reading

2013–14

Charlton Athletic

2019[65]

Brentford

2021[66]

Individual

April 2016

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Oxford United . 24 October 2019 . English Football League . 52.
  2. Web site: Tariqe Fosu-Henry . 3 February 2020 . Brentford F.C. . en-gb.
  3. Web site: The New Crop! . 3 February 2020 . Reading F.C..
  4. Web site: Get to Know: Tariqe Fosu . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702142407/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/february/10-things-tariqe-fosu/ . 2 July 2022 . 3 February 2020 . Brentford F.C..
  5. Web site: Tariqe Fosu . 3 February 2020 . Reading F.C..
  6. Web site: 18 contracts offered . 3 February 2020 . Reading F.C..
  7. Web site: Fosu pens new Royals contract . 3 February 2020 . Reading F.C..
  8. Web site: Fosu transfers to Charlton . 3 February 2020 . Reading F.C..
  9. Web site: 11 November 2015 . Fosu loaned to Fleetwood . 12 November 2015 . Reading F.C..
  10. Web site: PFA Fans' Player of the Month vote – Last chance to pick your candidate . 8 February 2021 . Sky Sports.
  11. Web site: November Fans' Player of the Month Contenders . 8 February 2021 . Professional Footballers' Association.
  12. Web site: 24 March 2016 . Stacey joins Cumbrians; Fosu heads to Accrington . 24 March 2016 . Reading F.C..
  13. News: 18 May 2016 . Accrington Stanley 2–2 AFC Wimbledon (2–3 agg) . BBC Sport . 3 February 2020.
  14. Web site: 6 May 2016 . Accrington Stanley's Tariqe Fosu has been named the Sky Bet League 2 Player of the Month for April. . 9 May 2016 . The Football League.
  15. Web site: 31 August 2016 . Fosu joins Colchester on loan . 31 August 2016 . Reading F.C..
  16. Web site: 12 January 2017 . Fosu Extends U's Loan . 12 January 2017 . Colchester United F.C..
  17. Web site: Cawley . Richard . 21 July 2018 . Charlton winger Tariqe Fosu: I've got to prove myself all over again . 3 February 2020.
  18. Web site: 19 June 2017 . Done deal: Charlton sign highly-rated attacker Tariqe Fosu from Reading . Charlton Athletic F.C..
  19. Web site: 30 September 2017 . Ezri Konsa delighted for hat-trick hero Tariqe Fosu following Fleetwood victory . 1 October 2017 . Charlton Athletic F.C..
  20. Web site: Injury boost for Addicks as Tariqe Fosu returns to training . 3 February 2020 . Charlton Athletic F.C..
  21. Web site: Released and retained list: Addicks offer new deals to Bauer, Aribo, Forster-Caskey and Fosu . 3 February 2020 . Charlton Athletic F.C..
  22. Web site: Tariqe Fosu makes switch to Oxford United . 3 February 2020 . Charlton Athletic F.C..
  23. Web site: Tariqe Fosu Joins Oxford United . 1 July 2019 . Oxford United F.C..
  24. Web site: 31 January 2020 . Tariqe Fosu joins from Oxford United . 31 January 2020 . Brentford F.C..
  25. News: Brentford sign Baptiste and Fosu . en-GB . BBC Sport . 6 November 2022.
  26. Web site: Elek . George . 3 February 2020 . Is the sale of Baptiste and Fosu a better deal for Oxford... . 16 March 2020 . The Athletic.
  27. Web site: Brentford 1 Fulham 2 . 4 August 2020 . Brentford F.C..
  28. Web site: No PFA Player of the Month awards in January . 13 February 2021 . Brentford F.C..
  29. Web site: AFC Wimbledon 0 Brentford 1 . 9 August 2021 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  30. Web site: Boreham Wood 0 Brentford 2 . 9 August 2021 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  31. Web site: Brentford beat Watford in pre-season friendly . 9 August 2021 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  32. Web site: Manchester United 2 Brentford 2 . 9 August 2021 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  33. Web site: Brentford vs West Ham United . 9 August 2021 . West Ham United.
  34. Web site: Ajer starts as Valencia visit TW8 . 9 August 2021 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  35. News: Swansea's Fosu move falls through . en-GB . BBC Sport . 1 December 2021.
  36. Web site: 2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed . 10 September 2021 . www.premierleague.com . en.
  37. Web site: McIntyre . David . 30 November 2021 . Brentford defender Ajer out for three to four more weeks . 1 December 2021 . West London Sport . en-GB.
  38. Web site: "We need to keep going, keep improving, and keep pushing" . 10 February 2022 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  39. Web site: Bennett . Dan . 20 January 2022 . Brentford's Fosu could make loan move . 8 February 2022 . West London Sport . en-GB.
  40. Web site: Updated squad lists for 2021/22 Premier League . 4 February 2022 . www.premierleague.com . en.
  41. Web site: Harris . Jay . Forss' place in Brentford's history is secure but time is right to leave . subscription . 31 July 2022 . The Athletic . en.
  42. Web site: Report: Fulham U21 5 Brentford B 4 . 31 July 2022 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  43. Web site: 2022/23 Squad Numbers Confirmed . 5 August 2022 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  44. Web site: Harris . Jay . Every Brentford player's transfer and contract situation explained . subscription . 23 August 2022 . The Athletic . en.
  45. Web site: Fosu joins Stoke on loan . 16 August 2022 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  46. Web site: Cope . Niall . Fosu claims monthly award . 4 November 2022 . Stoke City FC. 4 November 2022 .
  47. Web site: Smith . Peter . 20 January 2023 . Stoke City confirm fourth exit of January window as Fosu leaves . 20 January 2023 . StokeonTrentLive . en.
  48. Web site: Fosu joins Rotherham on loan . 20 January 2023 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  49. Web site: Fosu and Valencia to leave Brentford as contracts expire . 2 June 2023 . www.brentfordfc.com . en-gb.
  50. Web site: 5 August 2023 . Hatayspor’a Ganalı Forvet geliyor . 16 February 2024 . Körfez Gazetesi . tr.
  51. Web site: Bogert . Tom . Inter Miami must shed players and more MLS news: Bogert . subscription . 16 February 2024 . The Athletic . en.
  52. Web site: Ex Newcastle United and Brentford stars training with Charlton Athletic . 11 March 2024 . LondonWorld.
  53. Web site: Willsher . Gareth . Northampton Town Complete Signing Of Tariqe Fosu . 9 August 2024 . www.ntfc.co.uk.
  54. Web site: Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers postponed . 14 March 2020 . Brentford F.C..
  55. Web site: Tariqe Fosu sacked from Ghana camp for failing to show up for training ahead Morocco friendly game . 20 July 2022 . Footballghana . en.
  56. News: 19 June 2017 . Tariqe Fosu: Charlton Athletic sign Reading midfielder for undisclosed fee . BBC Sport . 3 February 2020.
  57. Web site: Tariqe Fosu over the moon after scoring first International goal . 23 February 2021 . Ghana Football Association.
  58. Web site: Crooke . Jaquob . 4 December 2020 . Brentford vs Rovers – key battles, predictions and TV information . 23 December 2020 . LancsLive.
  59. Web site: Tariqe Fosu: Ghana star assesses right-back performance in Championship win over Reading . 23 December 2020 . Goal.com.
  60. Web site: McCullough . Ian . 23 February 2021 . Bees star Henry out for two months . 23 February 2021 . West London Sport.
  61. Appearance in League Two play-offs
  62. Two appearances in League One play-offs and one appearance in EFL Trophy
  63. Appearance in EFL Trophy
  64. Appearances in Championship play-offs
  65. News: Law . James . 26 May 2019 . Charlton Athletic 2–1 Sunderland . BBC Sport . 26 May 2019.
  66. News: Vincent . Gareth . 29 May 2021 . Brentford 2–0 Swansea City . BBC Sport . 29 May 2021.
  67. Web site: Tariqe Fosu Wins Cabling Company Player Of Month Award . 3 February 2020 . Oxford United F.C..
  68. Web site: Players Of The Month For October And November . 3 February 2020 . Oxford United F.C..