Darko Gyabi

Darko Gyabi

Personal information
Full name	Darko Boateng Gyabi [1]
Date of birth	(2004-02-18) 18 February 2004 (age 20) [2]
Place of birth	Catford, London, England
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) [2]
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Team information
Current team	Leeds United
Number	18
Youth career
2012–2015	Cray Wanderers
2015–2018	Millwall
2018–2022	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Leeds United	3	(0)
2024	→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)	10	(0)
International career‡
2019	England U15	2	(0)
2019–2020	England U16	8	(1)
2021–2022	England U18	2	(0)
2022–2023	England U19	4	(1)
2023–	England U20	8	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:37, 14 January 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:58, 24 November 2023 (UTC)

Darko Boateng Gyabi (born 18 February 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL Championship club Leeds United.

Club career

Having played for Cray Wanderers between the ages of eight and 11, ^[3] Gyabi joined Millwall in 2015. In 2018, Gyabi left to join the academy of Manchester City. ^[4] He played for City's under-21 side in three EFL Trophy games during the 2020–21 season. ^[5]

On 4 July 2022, Gyabi joined Leeds United on a four-year contract for a £5 million transfer fee in part of a swap deal involving Kalvin Phillips. ^{[6] [7]} On 9 November 2022 he made his debut for Leeds in the EFL Cup against Wolverhampton Wanderers. ^{[8] [9]} The next month saw him make his Premier League debut on 28 December 2022 in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City as a second-half substitute. ^[10]

On 11 January 2024, Gyabi joined fellow Championship club Plymouth Argyle on loan until the end of the 2023-24 season. ^[11] On 26 March 2024 Gyabi's loan was cut short due to a season ending injury. ^[12]

International career

Gyabi is of Ghanaian descent. ^[13]

In September 2021, Gyabi made his debut representing the England under-18 team. ^{[14] [15]}

On 21 September 2022, Gyabi made his England U19 debut during a 2-0 2023 U19 Euro qualifying win over Montenegro. ^[16]

On 10 May 2023, Gyabi was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. ^{[17] [18]} He scored in a group stage victory over Uruguay and also played in their round of sixteen elimination against Italy. ^{[19] [20]}

Style of play

Gyabi is right footed and plays mainly as a box-to-box midfielder; he has been described as being a player who catches the eye with his skill in tight areas with ability to dribble through midfield. ^[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 January 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester City U21	2020–21 [5]	—			—		—		—		3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	3	0
	2021–22 [22]	—			—		—		—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	4	0
Leeds United U21	2022–23 [23]	—			—		—		—		3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	3	0
Leeds United	2022–23 [23]	Premier League	1	0	1	0	1	0	—		—		3	0
	2023–24 [24]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		0	0	2	0
	Total		2	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Career total			2	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	7	0	12	0

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: England (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 6. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
2. "Darko Gyabi: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
3. "Darko Gyabi". Proformance. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
4. Marshall, Tyrone (22 November 2018). "Man City sign 14-year-old midfielder Darko Gyabi". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
5. "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
6. Dawes, Olly (4 July 2022). "Gyabi joins Leeds". HITC. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
7. "Leeds confirm Gyabi signing". BBC Sport. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
8. Sobot, Lee (9 November 2022). "Young Leeds United trio and 'keeper given debuts in ten Whites changes for Wolves cup clash". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
9. Smith, Emma (9 November 2022). "Wolves 1-0 Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
10. Dawkes, Phil (28 December 2022). "Leeds United 1-3 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
11. "Gyabi joins on loan until end of season". www.pafc.co.uk. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
12. Gyabi loan ening injury
13. "Leeds Utd set to sign Ghanaian teenager Gyabi Darko for a fee of £5 million from Man City". FootballGhana. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
14. "Exclusive: Ghanaian teen midfielder Darko Gyabi gets England U-18 call-up". SportsWorld Ghana. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
15. Veevers, Nicholas (3 September 2021). "Wales 1-1 England MU18s". England Football. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
16. Smith, Frank (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU19s 2-0 Montenegro". England Football. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
17. Veevers, Nick (10 May 2023). "England MU20s squad named for World Cup in Argentina". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
18. "Fifa Under-20 World Cup: England name squad for tournament". BBC Sport. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
19. "Under-20 World Cup: England beat Uruguay to move top of Group E and into last 16". BBC Sport. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
20. "Italy oust England at U20 World Cup thanks to late penalty". ESPN. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
21. Leigh, Neil. "Darko Gyabi". www.mancity.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
22. "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
23. "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
24. "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2024.

External links

• Darko Gyabi at Soccerway