Former Ghanaian national team defender, Harrison Afful, has signed a new contract with Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer. The new contract will see Afful play for Charlotte FC in 2023, and the club holds an option to extend the deal for a further year in 2024.
Afful joined Charlotte FC ahead of the 2022 season for the club’s inaugural season in the top flight of American and Canadian soccer. The defender appeared in 21 matches in MLS for Charlotte and helped the Crown post a record of 13W-3D-18L. Charlotte FC did not qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs, as they just missed out on the postseason.
The 2023 MLS season will kick off on February 25, and Charlotte FC will fight for its first-ever MLS Cup. The Crown will start the campaign against Eastern Conference ris, the New England Revolution, and fans can use the Frapapa promotional code before betting on the outcome of the match.
According to reports from Charlotte FC, the 36-year-old defender will also work in the club’s scouting department. Afful will perform a “player professional development role” which will help prepare him for a career after retiring from playing soccer.
Afful is capable of playing as both a right-back and full-back. He has also appeared as a right-sided midfielder during his career. During the 2022 MLS campaign, Afful played 15 matches at right-back, scoring one goal. His goal came in the third round of the US Open Cup tournament against USL League One team, Greenville Triumph, as Charlotte FC won in extra time to progress to the fourth round.
The defender started his football journey with the Feyenoord Academy, now known as the West African Football Academy, in Ghana. Afful moved to Asante Kotoko in 2009 on loan but failed to make an impact with the Ghanaian giants.
In August 2009, Tunisia’s Esperance paid Asante Kotoko €300,000 for Afful’s services. The defender joined the Tunisian club and played 175 times for the club from 2009 to 2015. Afful scored 16 goals, and provided 25 assists, and became an off-and-on member of the Black Stars during his time playing for Esperance.
Afful’s time in Tunisia was littered with silverware. The defender helped Esperance win four Tunisian top-flight titles, one Tunisian Cup, and the 2011 CAF Champions League trophy. Afful’s six seasons at Esperance did not end well, however. The club failed to pay Afful’s remaining contract salary and bonuses. Afful took his case to FIFA, and the club was ordered to pay the outstanding money owed to him.
In 2015, Afful moved across the Atlantic Ocean to MLS and signed with Columbus Crew. He was a mainstay in the Crew’s defence for six and a half seasons. The defender played 188 times for the Crew, compiling seven goals and 16 assists. Afful’s defining moment with Columbus Crew was in 2020, as the team won the MLS Cup. He appeared in 26 games in all competitions that season.
Afful last played for the Black Stars in 2018. He received 84 caps during his international career with the Ghanaian national team.
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