Amankwah Forson Arrives at Hapoel Be'er Sheva to Replace Key Player

Hapoel Be'er Sheva has signed 23-year-old attacking midfielder Amankwah Forson, who arrives as the successor to influential player Kings Kangwa. Forson, younger than Kangwa was upon his arrival in Israel, brings experience from Ghana's national team and a significant transfer fee history, having been purchased for 4.5 million euros by Norwich City and previously playing alongside Oscar Gloukh at Red Bull Salzburg.

Forson's career trajectory shows early promise, highlighted by his acquisition by Salzburg at 19. After an initial loan to FC Liefering, he was loaned to Altach, where he became a key player in the 2023-24 season, sometimes playing alongside or in place of Gloukh. Despite his preference for an attacking midfield role, Forson demonstrated tactical flexibility, adapting to more defensive positions when needed, a trait praised by his former coaches.

His move to Norwich City for 4.5 million euros at age 21 was aimed at bolstering their promotion push to the English Premier League. However, Forson faced challenges adapting to the league's physicality and suffered injuries, including a shoulder and later a knee injury, which hampered his progress. He accumulated 22 squad appearances and missed 24 games due to injuries during his time at Norwich, often playing as a midfielder or right winger.

At Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Forson is expected to play a central role, a significant shift from his limited starts in previous seasons. While his goal-scoring numbers have been modest, his strengths lie in his dribbling, ball progression, and playmaking, inspired by players like Bernardo Silva. He is anticipated to exploit the space afforded to him in the Israeli league, utilizing his speed, which was clocked at 35.1 km/h last season.

While Forson may be less of a complete player than Kangwa, his arrival is seen as a strategic fit for Hapoel Be'er Sheva's current squad. His quick acceleration, ability to drive forward with the ball, and tactical adaptability are qualities that could help the team change momentum, similar to Kangwa's impact last season. He is described as a quiet, hardworking, and tactically flexible player who could surprise many.