New York City FC Wednesday announced the signing of Ebenezer Ofori, who will be loan from VfB Stuttgart. His signing is pending the MLS club receiving the midfielder’s International Transfer Certificate.
The 22-year-old Ghanaian international agreed to a one-year loan deal with an option for City to purchase him permanently at the conclusion of this season.
Ofori became NCYFC’s eighth offseason acqusition after Abdul-Salaam, Jo Inge Berget, Cedric Hountondji, Jesus Medina, Brad Stuver, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Anton Tinnerholm.
“I’m really excited to bring in Ebenezer,” NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira said. “He’s a young player who is looking to improve. He is really dynamic and can cover ground. He’s really aggressive but he’s good with the ball too. I’m really pleased that we managed to bring him to the football club.
“He’s a competitor, he’s a guy who likes to win, he’s a strong character. He’s coming to this club to compete with the midfielders we have and, like I always say, that will bring the best out of all of the players we have at this football club.”
Needless to say, Ofori said he was “feeling good and happy” joining City.
“I’ve been looking forward to start this new chapter with a big club like NYCFC,” he said.
“For me, I just want to be part of a successful team this year, to be happy and to play in and win many games as I can with my new team. I can’t wait to step out in the Bronx on a gameday and to meet the fans for the first time.”
Ofori played with VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga as he helped Die Roten win promotion to the top division with nine appearances in the first half of 2017.
Prior to that, the Ghanaian spent three seasons at AIK in the Swedish Allsvenskan, appearing in more than 75 matches, scoring four goals and earning the league award for best midfielder in 2015.
Ofori has earned eight caps since making his debut in February 2017. He scored his first international goal in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia.
“Ebenezer plays as a holding midfielder that can help dictate the tempo of the game with his quality passing ability,” City sporting director Claudio Reyna said. “He has good technique combined with a very good game understanding that will provide another element to our team.”
Ofori became NCYFC’s eighth offseason acqusition after Abdul-Salaam, Jo Inge Berget, Cedric Hountondji, Jesus Medina, Brad Stuver, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Anton Tinnerholm.
