Ghana Premier League side Accra Lions have announced a mutual beneficial agreement with German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of next season's campaign.
The Capital-based club becomes the second Ghanaian top-flight league outfit to secure a partnership deal with a Bundesliga side after Hearts of Oak. The Phobians announced their cooperation with TSG Hoffenheim along with MLS side FC Cincinnati as part of the "Common Value Club Alliance" in April 2022
According to a statement from Accra Lions, the mutual beneficial partnership deal with Eintracht Frankfurt which will see both exploring opportunities in all aspects will take effect from June 2025.
The club's official statement reads: “Accra Lions is pleased to announce a cooperation with German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. The partnership takes effect in June 2025 and includes several exciting aspects.”
“Among other things, it will contribute to the development of our players through optimized training conditions and knowledge transfer. The goal is to promote Accra Lions FC players and open up opportunities for them in international football.”
“In return, Eintracht Frankfurt would like to learn more about the circumstances and background of West African football in order to better understand the growing number of African players in international football.”
Eintracht Frankfurt, a powerhouse in European football, have won the German championship once, the DFB-Pokal five times, the UEFA Europa League twice and finished as runner-up in the European Cup once. Eintracht was one of the first Bundesliga clubs to count on African players. Players like our compatriot Anthony Yeboah and Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha achieved legendary status in Frankfurt already over thirty years ago.
"This partnership is a significant step for our club. We are proud to have a renowned Bundesliga club like Eintracht Frankfurt on our side. Our players and coaches can benefit enormously from this collaboration – both athletically and personally. We see it as a fantastic opportunity for cultural exchange between two football-loving countries, which can extend far beyond football-specific topics," said Oliver Koenig, the Chairman of Accra Lions.
Eintracht Frankfurt is also enthusiastic about the collaboration:
"We are very pleased about the partnership with Accra Lions FC, which opens up new opportunities for both clubs. This initiative will not only help us discover talent from Africa, but also contribute to sharing our sporting and organizational experience with a dynamic club like the Accra Lions," said Markus Kroesche, Sporting CEO of Eintracht Frankfurt.
The cooperation is in line with Eintracht Frankfurt's strategic goal of expanding its international network and promoting youth development worldwide. The club sees great opportunities in the growing importance of the African football market – both in sporting and social terms – and wants to actively shape this dynamic.
