Daniel Amartey
Amartey playing for Ghana in 2015
Personal information
Full name Daniel Amartey[1]
Date of birth (1994-12-21) 21 December 1994 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Accra, Ghana[2]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender, midfielder[2]
Team information
Current team
 Beşiktaş
Number 12
Youth career
2010–2012 International Allies
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Djurgårdens IF 34 (0)
2014–2016 Copenhagen 44 (3)
2016–2023 Leicester City 106 (2)
2023– Beşiktaş 10 (0)
International career‡
2012–2014 Ghana U20 2 (0)
2015– Ghana 53 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 January 2024

Daniel Amartey (born 21 December 1994) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and the Ghana national team.

A graduate of International Allies' youth academy, Amartey played for Djurgården and Copenhagen, before joining Leicester City in 2016.

Club career

Djurgårdens IF

Amartey started out playing for second-tier club International Allies in Ghana where he was spotted as a sixteen-year-old by Magnus Pehrsson who was on a scouting trip in Africa during his preparation to take over as manager of Djurgårdens IF. When Pehrsson became manager he secured the transfer rights for Amartey from the day he turned 18.[4] To help prepare Amartey for his future permanent move to Sweden in 2013, the club brought him over for shorter periods of time in both 2011 and 2012 where he got to play for the club's U21 team.[5][6]

Amartey made his Svenska Cupen debut on 3 March 2013 against Umeå FC.[7] He then made his league debut in the 2013 Allsvenskan opening game away against Helsingborgs IF on 31 March.[8] Amartey was praised by the media for his strong start to the 2013 season, and foreign clubs like FC Schalke 04 and 1. FC Kaiserslautern started to scout him.[9][10] On 26 May 2013, he scored his first ever goal for the club when he headed home the 1–1 equalizer in the 2013 Svenska Cupen Final which Djurgården eventually lost against IFK Göteborg on penalties.[11] After his first season in the Swedish league as an eighteen-year-old Amartey was ranked as the 10th-best player in the league by newspaper Expressen and 18th best by Aftonbladet.[12][13] In November 2013 Amartey confirmed that he was in talks with Liverpool F.C. over a possible move to the English club.[14]

Copenhagen

In July 2014, Amartey moved to F.C. Copenhagen for a fee of €2.5 million plus add-ons, and made his Superliga-debut on 20 July 2014, in a match against Silkeborg IF.[15]

Leicester City

Amartey playing for Leicester City in 2021

On 22 January 2016, Amartey joined Premier League side Leicester City on a four-and-a-half-year contract for a fee around the region of up to £6 million.[16] In his first season in his new country, Amartey featured five times as his team Leicester City won the Premier League title. He made his debut for the club on 27 February 2016, in 1–0 home league win over Norwich City.[17]

In the 2016–17 season, Amartey became a first team regular following the departure of N'Golo Kanté.[18] partnering teammate Danny Drinkwater in the central midfield role.[19] While his workrate roughly equalled Kanté's, he has been unable to match his tackles and interceptions.[20] On 14 September 2016, Amartey started in his Champions League debut for Leicester in a 3–0 away win over Club Brugge in the group stage.[21] Amartey scored his first goal for Leicester in an 88th-minute equaliser away at Stoke City on 17 December 2016, salvaging a 2–2 draw.[22] On 8 February 2017, just over 12 hours after returning to Leicester from international duty, Amartey played 120 minutes (including AET) in a 3–1 FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Derby County.[23]

In October 2018, Amartey broke his ankle in a game against West Ham United, ruling him out for the rest of the 2018–19 season.[24][25]

Out of action for nearly a year, the closest Amartey came to a first team return was making the bench for an EFL Cup match against Luton Town in September 2019.[26] He made his first team return almost two years after his injury in an EFL Cup match against Arsenal on 23 September 2020, which Leicester lost 2–0.[27] Four days later he made his Premier League return when he started away at Manchester City in a 5–2 win.[28] On 18 February 2021, Amartey started in his Europa League debut for Leicester in a 0–0 away draw against Slavia Prague in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32 tie.[29] On 6 March 2021, Amartey scored his first goal for the Foxes in over four years, heading in a late winner to seal a 2–1 away league win over Brighton & Hove Albion.[30]

On 15 May 2021, following Leicester City's FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, Amartey was filmed picking up a Chelsea pennant in the Leicester dressing room and throwing it over his shoulder to the floor in a video that went viral. He received criticism and backlash from many social media users, who deemed the gesture disrespectful.[31] Leicester City later issued an apology to Chelsea, who accepted.[32]

Amartey and Leicester started the 2021–22 season with the 2021 FA Community Shield against Manchester City. Amartey played the full match as Iheanacho scored the winning goal, an 89th-minute penalty against his former club.[33]

On 5 June 2023, following the club's relegation from the Premier League, it was announced that Amartey and six other first team players would be leaving the club upon the expiration of their contracts at the end of the month.[34]

Beşiktaş

On 21 July 2023, Amartey signed a contract with Süper Lig club Beşiktaş.[35]

International career

In May 2012 Amartey made his debut for the Ghana national under-20 football team in a game against Nigeria.[36] He was also selected to play in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup but Djurgården wanted to keep him in Sweden since the tournament clashed with the 2013 Allsvenskan season.[37] In January 2015, Amartey played in all the group matches for Ghana at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Black Stars finished as runners-up.

He played six times at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, lasting 90 minutes in every match to help Ghana finish fourth in the tournament.[38] His performances saw him named in the CAF Team of the tournament.[38] Amartey featured in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon whom the Ghana national team was eliminated in the early stage of the competition.[39]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 December 2023[40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Djurgårdens IF 2013 Allsvenskan 23 0 6 1 — — — 29 1
2014 Allsvenskan 11 0 1 0 — — — 12 0
Total 34 0 7 1 — — — 41 1
Copenhagen 2014–15 Danish Superliga 29 3 5 0 — 9[c] 3 — 43 6
2015–16 Danish Superliga 15 0 2 0 — 3[d] 0 — 20 0
Total 44 3 7 0 — 12 3 — 63 6
Leicester City 2015–16 Premier League 5 0 — — — — 5 0
2016–17 Premier League 24 1 2 0 1 0 8[e] 0 0 0 35 1
2017–18 Premier League 8 0 2 0 4 0 — — 14 0
2018–19 Premier League 9 0 0 0 1 0 — — 10 0
2019–20 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2020–21 Premier League 12 1 2 0 1 0 2[d] 0 — 17 1
2021–22 Premier League 28 0 1 0 1 0 9[f] 1 1[g] 0 40 1
2022–23 Premier League 20 0 2 0 2 0 — — 24 0
Total 106 2 9 0 10 0 19 1 1 0 145 3
Leicester City U23 2017–18 — — — — 1[h] 0 1 0
2019–20 — — — — 1[h] 0 1 0
Total — — — — 2 0 2 0
Beşiktaş 2023–24 Süper Lig 10 0 0 0 — 7[i] 1 — 17 1
Career total 193 4 23 1 10 0 38 5 3 0 267 10
  1. ^ Includes Svenska Cupen, Danish Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, five appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  7. ^ Appearance in FA Community Shield
  8. ^ a b Appearance in EFL Trophy
  9. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 22 January 2024[41]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Ghana 2015 8 0
2016 5 0
2017 11 0
2018 1 0
2019 0 0
2020 0 0
2021 7 0
2022 16 0
2023 4 0
2024 1 0
Total 53 0

Honours

Copenhagen

Leicester City

Ghana

References

  1. ^ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Daniel Armartey". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Daniel Armartey: Overview". Premier League. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  4. ^ "MP om de nya ghananerna" (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Afrikanska löften på Kaknäs" (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF. 27 August 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Daniel Amartey ansluter i augusti" (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF. 11 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Ertons hattrick sänkte Umeå" (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF. 3 March 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Allsvenskan, herrar Matchinformation: Helsingborgs IF – Djurgården" (in Swedish). SvFF. 31 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Månsson: Nu har det vänt för Djurgården". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Han jagas av storklubbar". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  11. ^ "IFK Göteborg cupmästare efter straffar" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Här är allsvenskans 50 bästa spelare – år 2013". Expressen (in Swedish). 6 November 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Allsvenskans 50 bästa spelare". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 26 October 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Djurgarden star Daniel Amartey confirms transfer talks with Liverpool". Metro. 2 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  15. ^ "Silkeborg IF vs. FC Copenhagen - Football Match Summary - July 20, 2014". ESPN. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Leicester City Sign Ghana Star Daniel Amartey". Leicester City F.C. 22 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Leicester City 1–0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  18. ^ "Leicester City's Daniel Amartey filling the Kante void will take time". Leicester Mercury. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Amartey learning from Drinkwater at Leicester". 17 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Leicester City: What has changed at the Premier League champions?". BBC Sport. 9 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  21. ^ Jennings, Patrick (14 September 2016). "Club Brugge 0-3 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Stoke City 2–2 Leicester City". BBC Sport. 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Leicester City 3–1 Derby County Leicester". BBC Sport. 8 February 2017. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  24. ^ "Leicester manager Puel concerned about injured Amartey". Reuters. 27 October 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  25. ^ "Daniel Amartey making 'promising recovery' from horror injury". 17 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Amartey on his way out of Leicester City, claims Ghana defender's agent". Goal. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  27. ^ "Leicester 0-2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Man City 2-5 Leicester". BBC Sport. 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  29. ^ Sanders, Emma (18 February 2021). "Slavia Prague 0-0 Leicester: Foxes held to goalless draw in Prague". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  30. ^ Mann, Mantej (6 March 2021). "Brighton 1-2 Leicester: Daniel Amartey scores late winner". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Football fans turn on Daniel Amartey for 'disrespecting' Chelsea pennant [VIDEO]". Citi Sports Online. 16 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Leicester issue Chelsea apology over Daniel Amartey FA Cup actions - MyJoyOnline.com". MyJoyOnline.com. 17 May 2021. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  33. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (7 August 2021). "Leicester City 1–0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Seven Players To Depart LCFC". Leicester City Football Club. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  35. ^ "Black Eagles strengthen defence with Daniel Amartey". bjk.com.tr. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Ghana U20 get their revenge against Nigeria U-20 in five-goal thriller". Ghana Soccernet. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  37. ^ "Talangen kunde spelat VM – stoppades av Dif". Expressen (in Swedish). 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  38. ^ a b MJClayton (6 February 2017). "Leicester City's Amartey in AFCON team of tournament – at centre-half". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 9 February 2017.[permanent dead link]
  39. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  40. ^ "Eliteprospects.com – Daniel Amartey". Eliteprospects. 26 June 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.
  41. ^ "Amartey, Daniel". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  42. ^ a b "PHOTOS: Daniel Amartey picks up Superliga and Cup medals in Denmark". social_image. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
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  44. ^ McNulty, Phil (15 May 2021). "Chelsea 0–1 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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  46. ^ "Ghana – D. Amartey – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.

External links

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