The German third-tier outfit have handed the talented teenager of Ghanaian heritage his first professional deal following his impressive performance with the youth ranks
German-born Ghanaian starlet James Gnagnon has signed his first professional contract with 3. Liga side Rot-Weiss Esse, the club have announced.
The 17-year-old, who joined the RWE at his budding stage from Borussia Mönchengladbach's youth academy in 2024, has now inked a long-term deal with his current employers, with his future now secured after attracting attention from suitors given his magnificent talent.
ln announcing the deal with the budding star in the presence of his parents, the Essen-based club have said Gnagnon will now be spending time with both the U19 ranks and the first-team as they look forward to integrating him into the main squad going forward.
''From the youth academy to the third-division team of Rot-Weiss Essen: Defender James Gnagnon has made this move. The 17-year-old, who moved from Borussia Mönchengladbach's youth academy to the Rot-Weiss Essen training center on Seumannstraße in 2024 , has now signed a long-term professional contract with Rot-Weiss Essen in the presence of his parents,'' an excerpt of a statement read.
Right after putting pen to paper, the Ghana-prospect defender has said via the club's official website: ''A dream has come true for me today. Being part of the RWE professional squad is simply fantastic and a great honor. I am very grateful for the trust, support, and the good, transparent communication with everyone involved, and now I want to show what I can do on the pitch with strong performances. I'm looking forward to the training sessions and will try to absorb as much as possible. Signing my first professional contract with RWE makes me very proud.”
Sporting director Marcus Steegmann added: ''James is a robust and versatile defender who has already shown his potential in individual training sessions with the first team. We are now adding him to the professional squad because he has impressed us with his abilities over a longer period, especially during the summer training camp. With his down-to-earth character, he is also a player we want to further develop off the pitch. He will now participate in training with the first team every week, thus becoming more integrated into their level. Thanks to the excellent cooperation with the youth development program, we can offer him an optimal transition from older youth football to professional football. Our thanks also go, of course, and especially to all the coaches and staff at the youth development program, without whom such a step would not be possible.”
With Gnagnon being the sibling of Southampton defender Joshua Quarshie, both of them still remain eligible to represent Ghana on the international stage.
