Hapoel Tel Aviv Signs Promising Ghanaian Winger Douglas Owusu at 20

Douglas Owusu, a 20-year-old Ghanaian winger, is set to join Hapoel Tel Aviv after a notable rise in Serbian football. Standing at 1.65 meters, Owusu's journey began in a small Ghanaian club, Ascom, where he was overlooked by scouts due to his size and did not feature in youth national teams. Despite this, his talent shone through, earning him a chance in Ghana's second division and eventually attracting a scout from Serbian second-tier club Sordulica, who signed him at 19.

Owusu quickly made an impact in Serbia, helping Sordulica gain promotion and drawing interest from clubs like Vojvodina and Buducnost Podgorica. After a strong half-season in Serbia's top league, scoring seven goals, he obtained Serbian citizenship, increasing his value. This led to a 2.2 million dollar transfer to Red Star Belgrade, Serbia's dominant club, where he initially impressed but later lost his starting spot due to inconsistent performances and a risky playing style.

Despite setbacks at Red Star, Owusu remains a highly regarded talent, noted for his speed (max sprint of 35.1 km/h), dribbling, and attacking instincts. He has been compared to players like Lamine Yamal and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, with a playing style characterized by explosive bursts and low center of gravity. However, his tendency to take risks has also led to turnovers and inefficiency in front of goal.

Owusu attracted interest from several clubs, including a failed medical at Viktoria Plzen, before reportedly agreeing to join Hapoel Tel Aviv. The Israeli club sees potential in him, especially given their success last season developing similar speedy, low-profile wingers under coach Eliniv Breda. Owusu's adaptation to Israeli football will be closely watched, as his talent could make a significant impact if he overcomes his inconsistency.

In summary, Douglas Owusu's path from Ghanaian obscurity to a high-profile signing in Israel highlights his potential and the risks involved in betting on young, dynamic wingers with unconventional backgrounds.