Posted On Wednesday, 17th April 2013
Frank Acheampong
Belgian giants Anderlecht have completed the signing of Ghana’s talented winger Frank ‘Messi’ Acheampong, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.
The 19-year-old has been signed in a deal worth about $1m.
Acheampong, who was on a six-month loan from Buriram United of Thailand, will join the club permanently in June.
The deal and the amount involved is the biggest in the history of Thai football with Buriram standing to gain more if the player moves to another club.
“We have completed the transfer of Acheampong to Anderlecht which is very good for us,” a top Buriram United official told GHANAsoccernet.com on condition of anonymity.
Buriram United agreed the bumper transfer sum for the Ghana youth international after the Ghanaian version of Messi excelled during his loan stint.
The Ghanaian Messi has not yet played for the first team Anderlecht but left a strong impression of his convincing the Belgian club to swoop for his signature.
He was hugely instrumental in Anderlecht’s title success at the prestigious Viareggio Cup where he scored two goals in the final for them to clinch the youth cup.
The swoop is a major coup for Anderlecht after Scottish side Celtic turned down the opportunity to sign the Ghanaian in January.
The diminutive winger was thought to be a target for several Chinese clubs, and was linked with Serie A side Palermo in 2010, although the move never materialised.
Acheampong scored 17 goals in 56 games for Buriram United and helped his side to fourth last season, taking them to the AFC Champions League Qualifying play-offs.
Acheampong was with the Thai Premier League side, having joined from Berekum Chelsea in his homeland in 2011.
His first appearance for Ghana in a friendly draw with China in August this year, playing 60 minutes before being substituted.