The talented teenage sensation has inked a new deal with the Danish top division outfit, with the fresh term set to come to a close in 2029 after being promoted to the first team squad this season
Ghanaian teen centre-back Stephen Acquah has penned a contract extension with Danish Superligaen side FC Nordsjælland, the club have announced.
The 18-year-old, who joined the Farum-based club from their Ghanaian-based feeder club, Right to Dream Academy in the summer of 2024, has so far been magnificent with the U19 youth team and has now gained promotion to the first team squad for the ongoing campaign.
An official confirmation over the budding defender contract extension and that of his promotion to the senior ranks read: ''This summer, Stephen Acquah made the move from the Right to Dream academy in Ghana to Farum and FCN, and now the 18-year-old defender can rejoice that he has been permanently promoted to the Superliga squad.''
''The athletic Ghanaian has primarily played for our U19 team for the past six months, which has been spiced up with reserve team matches, Superliga training and the Premier League International Cup. The young defender has been involved in the entire start-up of the Superliga team, and in addition to the permanent promotion to the Superliga squad, Stephen Acquah has also signed a new contract, which will now run until the end of 2029.''
The Black Stars prospect had this to tell his employers right after being drafted into the top-flight team set-up via the club's official website: ''I am really happy to be part of the Superliga squad. And I am looking forward to taking the next step in my development. It means a lot to me to have this opportunity to become a permanent part of the Superliga team. I have come all the way through the academy, and since the summer I have been part of the U19 team here at FCN, and I now feel ready to take on the next challenge. I will continue to work hard and do everything I can to continue my positive development. It has been easy for me to move from the familiar framework of the academy in Ghana to Denmark and FCN, as there are so many familiar faces both on and off the pitch. So it feels good to be part of FCN, as I feel at home here. - Pride and joy are the first words that come to mind when I think about the prospect of making my debut for the Superliga team getting closer and closer. I have always fought hard for this and looked forward to it for many years.''
Sporting director Phil Radley: ''Stephen joined in the summer, and at the time we thought that the right thing for him was to start in our U19 team, as it could be a strong foundation. And then in the last six months he has had a lot of training with the Superliga team, to which we have seen him perform well in reserve team matches and in the Premier League International Cup. So it has always been the plan that he should take the step up to the Superliga squad now, although his level justifies that it could have happened earlier. Stephen has developed really well in the past year. He entered the academy in Ghana as a 10-year-old and has taken really good steps in his development in the last few years, where he has played many good matches with both the U17, U19 and our international academy. We have seen his high level in academy matches against Benfica, Dortmund and in the Ajax Future Cup, where, among other things, as a right back he scored in the semi-final against Juventus in the last minute, which secured us a place in the final. Stephen is basically a central defender, but because of his speed and technique he can also play as a right back, which could very well happen in the Super League. He can cover a large area defensively with his athletic abilities, and he has good composure on the ball. He can remind me of Adamo Nagalo in some areas.''
