Josh Acheampong

Josh Acheampong

Personal information
Full name	Joshua Kofi Acheampong [1]
Date of birth	(2006-05-05) 5 May 2006 (age 18) [2]
Place of birth	London, England [3]
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [3]
Position(s)	Right-back, centre-back
Team information
Current team	Chelsea
Number	34
Youth career
–2024	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2024–	Chelsea	1	(0)
International career‡
2022	England U16	3	(0)
2022–2023	England U17	19	(1)
2023–2024	England U18	4	(0)
2024-	England U19	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:57, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Joshua Kofi Acheampong ^[1] (born 5 May 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Chelsea. He has represented England as a youth international at multiple levels.

Early life

Born in London, Acheampong is of Ghanaian descent. ^[4] He first joined Chelsea's academy as an Under-8. ^[2]

Club career

On 3 January 2024, Acheampong signed his first professional contract with Chelsea. ^[5] Acheampong was included in a match-day squad for the Chelsea men's senior team for the first time on 11 March 2024, being named amongst the substitutes in the Premier League match against Newcastle United; ^[6] however, he ultimately went unused in that game. On 2 May 2024, three days before his 18th birthday, Acheampong made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute in the 85th minute of a 2–0 Chelsea victory at Stamford Bridge over their London derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. ^[7]

International career

In May 2023, Acheampong was a member of the England under-17 squad that finished fifth at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. ^[8] In November 2023 he was selected to represent England at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and scored a goal in their opening game against New Caledonia. ^{[9] [10]}

On 4 September 2024, Acheampong made his England U19 debut against Italy in Nedelišće. ^[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 2 May 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
Chelsea	2023–24 [12]	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
	2024–25 [13]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

Honours

Chelsea U18s

• Southern Champion: 2023–24

England U18s

• 2024 U18 Pinatar Super Cup ^[14]

References

1. "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
2. "Josh Acheampong". Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
3. "Josh Acheampong". World Football.net. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
4. "Chelsea secure rising star Josh-Kofi Acheampong with first pro contract". Ghana Soccernet. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
5. "Acheampong signs professional contract". Chelsea F.C. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
6. "Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle United". Chelsea F.C. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
7. Burnton, Simon (2 May 2024). "Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 May 2024.
8. Veevers, Nicholas (17 May 2023). "England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals". England Football. The Football Association. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
9. Smith, Frank (2 November 2023). "England squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup". England Football. The Football Association. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
10. "England v New Caledonia". ESPN. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
11. Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2024). "Report: England MU19s 2-2 Italy". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
12. "Games played by Josh Acheampong in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
13. "Games played by Josh Acheampong in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
14. "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.