FEATURE: The next step for Fatawu Issahaku as Amorim confirms Leicester City permanent move

Sporting Lisbon’s manager, Ruben Amorim, confirmed the departure of Abdul Fatawu Issahaku to Leicester City.

The 20-year-old Ghanaian initially joined the Foxes on loan at the onset of the 2023-2024 English Championship season.

Fatawu’s inclusion in the setup was pivotal to the Foxes’ success in clinching the Championship title, thereby qualifying for the English Premier League.

Celebrating as a city 🎉 pic.twitter.com/FASxBNT5wU

— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 5, 2024

 

The foemer Ghana U20 star bagged 19 goals involvement with the Foxes as they secured promotion to the top-tier of English football.

With such stupenduous quality on the flanks, Leicester have now activated the €17million buy option clause for Fatawu and the Ghanaian has an immense responsibility in the 2024/25 season.

“We will generate revenue. Talented players who fail to acclimate here will transition to other clubs, enhancing our financial standing. It is integral to our operational framework,” Amorim stated.

Expressing his satisfaction, Amorim added, “I’m pleased for Fatawu.”

Not Ruben Amorim alone, I believe. Ghanians like us (David and Dennis) and probably you our avid football reader.

Undoubtedly, most Ghanaian football fans are ecstatic about the move as another Black Stars youngster joins the English Premier League.

After Jordan Ayew, Daniel Amartey, Andre Ayew, Thomas Partey lighted hearts in the last 10 years of the EPL, Ghanaians yearn to have loads of our best talents playing in arguably the best league on planet Earth.

Mohammed Kudus, Tariq Lamptey, Kamaldeen Sulemana and now there’s Fatawu Issahaku, who has an exciting opportunity to enjoy and further etch his name in the books of Leicester City.

Fatawu was honoured as Leicester City’s Young Player of the Year during the club’s end-of-season Awards Night on Tuesday.

It was an honour and a privilege to receive this amazing award. I want to thank my team mate and the managements for their support and encouragement throughout the season,and all the foxes 🦊.I am so grateful to everyone who has always been a part of my journey.🙏🏾thank you @LCFC pic.twitter.com/jMQRcikqox

— Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (@AbdulFatawuI10) May 1, 2024

But the Championship love-story ends there and the focus is highly placed in the challenge for spots in Enzo Maresca’s Premier League team.

So, what’s the next step for Abdul Fatawu Issahaku?

The start in the 2024/25 EPL season

When all top leagues end, there’s an in-depth assessment of clubs and players. Spots to be filled, areas to improve, and finally different tasks to achieve.

In brief, transfers happen at most clubs,  especially the Premier League where over £1billion could be used on departures and incoming players.

Fatawu, himself, played “€17million” part of the total spend of EPL clubs for the new season.

Certainly, the youngster is not the only signing for the Foxes by the close of the summer transfer window.

As we all agree to this assertion, it’s now up to Fatawu to make a case for himself at pre-season in July and in the league from August to December 2024.

You might ask, Why?

The 2024/25 Premier League campaign is Enzo Maresca’s first ever chance of managing in the top-flight league.

The Italian gaffer was only an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City after his sack from Parma in the Serie B.

 

That said, Maresca knows what’s at hand, most especially, the attitude of his bosses when results are negative.

Claudio Ranieri, Brendan Rodgers, Dean Smith all got the boot.

Like their Championship season, Maresca will work for a bright start in the league – The Foxes won 12 of their first 13 games.

And his players should be ready, new signing,  Fatawu included.

From August to December, the Ghanaian winger must prove his quality at the first time of asking to ensure his spot in the squad before the January 2025 transfer window opens.

Fatawu would not admire losing his spot to a top-signing in January and Leicester are money-bags like Fulham, like Nottingham Forest.

That level of spending gets you a good talent already experienced in the top-flight and Fatawu must be ready for the battle in August through to December.

The consistency his Leicester City career depends on

Achieving a good start to life at a new club is a positive individual attribute but sometimes your best world players become complacent.

For Fatawu at this young stage of his budding career, it’s all rosy and glittering along with Asamoah Gyan dance moves and African unity at Leicester.

But when it turns sour, when team results drop, the youngster must remain consistent in his commitment and quality.

 

It’s his first season in the English League and anything is possible. Injuries, poor team performances and maybe individual form dip.

However, when it gets to that stage, Fatawu must be ready to maintain a cool head and react positively.

Finally, aiming for the bigger stage

There are twenty teams in a Premier League season. Yes twenty, but six get the most attention globally.

The benchmark now seems like Leicester City for Fatawu.

Howver, big teams love quality and quality propels them to glory. For quality, Fatawu has got that in loads.

His quality along with consistency in the Leicester team will attract the best of English teams and other European sides, most importantly, the UEFA Champions League regulars.

James Maddison, Harvey Barnes have all moved on to Tottenham Hotspurs and Newcastle United respectively.

 

So Fatawu has got the destiny of his young career right in England now. Make a good name, excite us in the Premier League and international games for the Black Stars.

Ghanaians will be observing such a good lad, talented, and full of fun amaze eyeballs at the King Power Stadium and TV viewers with his performances.

Bonne chance, Abdul!

Fatawuuuuu 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/WBJwp9ALow

— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 5, 2024