by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Italian Serie A side Bologna have confirmed the acquisition of Ghanaian youngster Kwesi Sorotu Badori, who joins the club’s youth setup for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
The agreement includes an option for Bologna to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign if the 18-year-old midfielder impresses during his stint in Italy.
Badori arrives from Ghana Premier League outfit Berekum Chelsea, where he established himself as one of the league’s emerging talents with a series of standout performances over the last two seasons.
Bologna officially announced the transfer on their website following the close of the winter transfer window on Monday, February 2.
The young midfielder has temporarily returned to Ghana to finalise his work permit arrangements before heading back to Italy, where he aims to settle quickly and continue his development.
So far this season, Badori has made 14 appearances and scored two goals, surpassing his previous campaign tally of one goal in 29 matches. His rapid progress has attracted interest from several European clubs, including Swiss side FC Basel and teams in Denmark.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
AS Monaco have officially removed Ghanaian defender Mohammed Salisu from their UEFA Champions League squad after he suffered a season-ending injury.
The Ligue 1 side are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League playoffs but will do so without Salisu, whose long-term absence has prompted changes to the club’s registered squad. Monaco have also excluded Paul Pogba and Takumi Minamino due to ongoing fitness issues.
In their place, Krepin Diatta, Wout Faes, and Simon Adingra have been added to the updated squad list.
Salisu sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the season, leaving the club with little option but to omit him from the playoff squad. The centre-back is expected to return to action next season.
The injury setback is also a major blow for Ghana, as it effectively rules Salisu out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, denting the Black Stars’ defensive options ahead of the tournament.
Prior to his injury, the 26-year-old had featured prominently for Monaco, making 17 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and scoring one goal. Salisu joined the French club from Southampton in 2023.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Serie A outfit Como have firmly rejected a €30 million offer from Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal for highly rated Dutch-Ghanaian winger Jayden Addai, Sportsworldghana.com understands.
The bid was submitted on Tuesday but was swiftly turned down by Como’s technical director, Mark-Jan Fledderus, with the timing of the approach playing a decisive role. The Italian transfer window had already closed on Monday evening, meaning the club would have been unable to line up a replacement for the 20-year-old attacker.
Al Hilal are believed to have held direct discussions with Addai over a potential switch to the Saudi Pro League. However, the Netherlands Under-21 international — who remains eligible to represent Ghana — is understood to be focused on continuing his development in Europe at this stage of his career.
According to a report by Sportsblog247.com, the Saudi champions have not abandoned their pursuit and are expected to return with an improved offer when the summer transfer window opens.
For now, Addai is set to remain with Como for the rest of the 2025/26 campaign. He joined the ambitious Italian side in July 2025 and is under contract until June 2030, a deal that places the club in a strong negotiating position.
The explosive winger has made an immediate impact in Serie A, scoring three goals in 11 league appearances this season and establishing himself as one of Como’s standout performers. His rapid rise is further reflected in his market valuation, with Transfermarkt currently pricing him at €20 million.
Addai’s continued progress will be closely watched as he seeks to build on an impressive start to life in Italy.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has candidly admitted the enormous financial responsibility that comes with having Victor Osimhen at the club, noting that the Nigerian striker’s salary alone could be enough to assemble an entire team.
Buruk made the remarks while assessing Galatasaray’s growing wage bill following their 3–1 victory over Istanbulspor in the Turkish Cup. The coach reflected on the club’s recent big-money recruitment drive, headlined by Osimhen’s permanent arrival from Napoli.
After a sensational loan spell, the Turkish champions moved decisively last summer to secure Osimhen on a long-term deal, fending off interest from Premier League and Saudi Pro League clubs. Galatasaray activated the striker’s €75 million release clause, ending his five-year stay in Naples.
The former African Footballer of the Year is reportedly earning a guaranteed €15 million annually, in addition to a €1 million loyalty bonus and €5 million per season in image rights. Osimhen signed a four-year contract, with the total cost of the transfer estimated at around €159 million over the duration of the deal.
Speaking via the club’s official media platforms, Buruk stressed the importance of balancing ambition with financial discipline.
“Galatasaray’s transfer fees and salaries have been going up since last year,” Buruk said. “With Osimhen’s transfer fee and salary, you could probably put together a full team. We need to take these things into account.”
He added that while the arrivals of players such as Singo, Uğurcan, Sané, and İlkay have significantly strengthened the squad, budget control remains crucial.
“With every team, there is a budget. Once you set it at the start of the season, you need to stick to it,” he explained.
Looking ahead to Galatasaray’s Turkish Super Lig encounter against Rizespor, Buruk revealed that Osimhen was rested during Wednesday’s cup tie as part of a careful workload management plan for the club’s marquee signing.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has expressed hope that Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo can translate his outstanding club form into consistent performances for the Black Stars as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches.
Semenyo is currently enjoying the most prolific spell of his career after completing a blockbuster £65 million transfer from AFC Bournemouth to Manchester City in January 2026. The forward has hit the ground running at the Etihad, scoring 12 Premier League goals by early February and cementing his status as one of the league’s in-form attackers.
However, Vanderpuye believes the 26-year-old still has work to do on the international stage. Since making his Black Stars debut in 2022, Semenyo has featured at the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, earning 32 caps and scoring three goals for Ghana.
Speaking to Citi Sports on Thursday, February 5, 2026, Vanderpuye said Ghanaians are keen to see the Manchester City forward reproduce the same sharpness and consistency when wearing the national colours.
“He’s playing wonderfully well. I would just pray that he’s able to transfer whatever he’s doing with Manchester City to the Black Stars,” Vanderpuye said. “Up to now, he’s not been able to convince Ghanaians so much about his prolific performance when it comes to the Black Stars.”
He added that Semenyo’s English upbringing could serve as extra motivation, particularly in big matches against top opposition.
“You know he was born in England, and I think that is good. That should be enough motivation for him to perform even better, especially when he plays against the English,” he noted.
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, attention is increasingly shifting to Semenyo and his teammates as Ghana aims to make a strong impact on football’s biggest stage.
