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We are just five months away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see Ghana face Panama in Toronto, then England in Foxborough, and finally Croatia in Philadelphia.
It promises to be a challenging group stage for the Black Stars, but if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout round, they’ll need Jerome Osei Opoku to bring his A-Game.
Born in Lambeth, England, to Ghanaian immigrants, Opoku joined Fulham’s academy in 2009 and spent the next decade developing his skills with the Cottagers, progressing from winger to left back to centre back. He then departed on loan in 2019, cutting his teeth in the English lower leagues with Accrington Stanley and Plymouth Argyle, before eventually heading out on loan to Danish side Velje, followed by a permanent move to Portuguese side Arouca.
Like other players, such as Felipe Martins, Opoku has thrived since moving abroad, helping Arouca qualify for European football before joining Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir, where he has since emerged as a key figure in central defence for both the Owls and the Ghana national team.
Since making his Ghana debut in October 2023, Opoku has made 9 appearances, playing alongside the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Abdul Fatawu.
“He’s definitely another baller,” said Opoku about Fatawu in an exclusive J interview.
The sky’s the limit for him; he’s sharp, skilful, and he can bend it to the top bins, or he can go line, he’s got a lot of qualities as a winger that will confuse defenders, and he’s a big addition to the Ghana team.”
After racking up four goals and one assist in 36 appearances in his debut campaign to lead his side to a Turkish Cup quarterfinal and a fourth-place finish, Opoku followed that up with an impressive 2024/25 season which saw him score three goals and four assists in 47 appearances as Başakşehir finished fifth and crashed out of the Turkish Cup and the UEFA Conference League at the group/league phase.
The club then parted ways with Çağdaş Atan and brought in a new manager: ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid star Nuri Şahin.
“He’s come in, and I think he’s been great,” says Opoku of Şahin. “I think his style, the way he works, the staff around him, they’re all great people, and I think there’s a great plan behind it.
As I said, I think once that win comes, you’re going to see us all just kick on, and we will be back up there, so we believe in everything we’re doing. I think it’s gonna be really positive.”
Following a horrendous start to the season, Başakşehir have found their footing with five wins from seven, and they sit sixth in the Süper Lig table. If they are to continue their ascent and make it four wins in a row vs. Kayserispor, they’ll need Opoku to be at his best.
