RtD graduate Ema Boateng joins Helsinborgs IF

Right to Dream Academy (RtD) graduate Ema Boateng signed a professional contract with Swedish top flight side Helsingborgs IF on Friday 19th July, 2013.

Boateng, a graduate of the Right to Dream Academy, which helps boys and girls from Africa to gain educational and sport opportunities in the world, signed a three and a half year contract.

According to the club, Boateng “showed fine qualities when Helsingborgs U-21 team played against Hacken,” while on trials during the summer.

The 19 year old scored four goals and four assists in 18 games for the Univeristy of California, Santa Barbara (UCSBS) Soccer Club last season.

Boateng earned a scholarship to study and play at the Cate School, a boarding school in Carpinteria, California after leaving RtD in 2008.

The powerful unitlity player won the 2012 Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year as a junior after scoring 32 goals and 19 assists in 23 games. He also briefly appeared with Strikers FC in the Development Academy.

He will be linking up with fellow RtD graduate and former RtD pal David Accam at Helsingborg.

“Accam know Ema well and has given us good reviews. We know what we're getting for players with Boateng's quality. He reminds me a lot of Accam”, said HIF's sports director Jesper Jansson.

Accam became an instant hit after joining HIF from Ostersund last year, making the quick transition to top flight football.

“I talked to David and he has only good things to say about the HIF,” said Ema Boateng.

“There is also the impression I got from the club when I was here last summer. I really want to play for HIF and I'm happy to be representing HIF.”

Boateng, who will be wearing jersey number 20 at his new club, becomes the latest RtD player to sign a professional contract to play top flight football in Sweden.

He will be joining five other RtD players who are currently playing professional football in Sweden.

RtD is renowned for producing some of the best football players in Africa including striker Majeed Waris who won the goal king award with BK Hacken in Sweden last season before joining Spartak Moscow in Russia.

Godsway Donyoh is also on-loan at Djurgarden from Manchester City, as well as the Ostersunds FK trio of Thomas Boakye, Samuel Mensah and Isaac Shaze.

Boateng is the 16th RtD graduate to sign a professional football contract.