Ghanaian winger Edward Opoku has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 28, bringing an early end to a career repeatedly derailed by injury.
The US-based forward has been away from the game for an extended period and confirmed his decision after a long and difficult battle to recover fitness. Opoku underwent seven surgeries from 2020 onwards, struggles that ultimately forced him to step away from the sport.
A graduate of the Right to Dream Academy, Opoku is best remembered for his breakthrough spell with Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, where his pace and direct style marked him out as a promising talent. He later featured for St Louis and Birmingham Legion FC, but persistent injuries halted his progress.
In an emotional message shared on social media, Opoku reflected on the journey that football gave him and the challenges that followed.
“Finally at peace with it… Soccer didn’t just give me a dream, it gave me a way out. Out of the streets of Ghana and into rooms I never imagined I’d step foot in,” he wrote.
“This journey hasn’t been easy. Seven surgeries just to walk again. Years fighting to return to the field. Struggling with my identity, my mental health, and learning how to live without the game that once defined me.”
While admitting he is still coming to terms with how his career ended, Opoku said he is ready to embrace life beyond football.
“I’m not completely at peace with how it ended and maybe I never will be. But for the first time since my injury, I can honestly say: I’m okay,” he added.
“Thank you, soccer, for pulling me off the streets and showing me what was possible. The next phase begins here.”
By: Pascal Amoah
