Sporting CP have finally formalized the signing of Ghana sensation Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
As published by Footy-Ghana.com in June 2021, the Portuguese giants struck an agreement for the midfielder while he was 17 years and had to wait until he turned 18 in March this year for the contract to start.
Fatawu joined the Lisbon-based side in January to begin his integration into the club.
Sporting Lisbon to sign Fatawu Issahaku in straight deal after Liverpool links
On Wednesday, April 6, Sporting made the capture of the Ghanaian prodigy and highly-rated teenager official.
His club Steadfast FC – a Division One side in Tamale accepted an offer understood to be worth an initial €1.2m after talks with Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool broke down.
Fatawu signed a five-year contract that contains a €60 million buyout clause, Sporting CP said in a club release.
“Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, 18, is a reinforcement for Sporting Clube de Portugal.
“The footballer from Ghana has signed for five seasons and has a release clause of 60 million euros, having been presented this Wednesday at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy, in Alcochete.”
In his first words, Fatawu told Jornal Sporting and Sporting TV: “I’m very happy to be here, it’s fantastic. They welcomed me very well.”
About his role on the pitch, Fatawu explained that he plays “at a winger and also an attacking midfielder.”
“I really enjoy shooting, especially from afar,” he added.
Fatawu – who has spent a couple of months at the club admitted that “there are many differences between the football I was playing and Sporting CP”. “It will make me grow more”, he guaranteed, also saying that everyone has been helpful in the Green and White Club: “Everyone has helped me, telling me what I have to do.”
Fatawu, who visited the José Alvalade Stadium and was eager to step on their lawn (“I can’t wait”), also addressed his past.
“Ghanaians believe in me and I had opportunities very early on. They made my dream possible and without that, I don’t think I would be here,” he said.
Abdul Fatwu Issahaku is currently a member of 2022 Fifa World Cup-bound Ghana senior national team after representing his country at the U-17 and U-20 levels. He is the reigning Africa U-20 best player.
