Yunus Musah

Yunus Dimoara Musah (born November 29, 2002) is a professional soccer player who plays for Spanish club Valencia CF. Mainly a right winger, he can also play as a central midfielder. A former youth international for England, Musah has most recently represented the United States. He remains eligible for both countries, as well as Italy and Ghana.

Yunus Musah
Musah in 2020
Personal information
Full name Yunus Dimoara Musah
Date of birth (2002-11-29) November 29, 2002
Place of birth New York City, United States
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Valencia
Number 30
Youth career
Giorgione
2012–2019 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Valencia B 17 (1)
2020– Valencia 19 (1)
National team‡
2016–2017 England U15 7 (0)
2017–2018 England U16 8 (0)
2018–2019 England U17 9 (2)
2019 England U18 8 (2)
2020– United States 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of February 4, 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of November 16, 2020

Club career

Early career

Musah was born in New York City while his Ghanaian mother was on vacation in the United States.[1] His father is also Ghanaian.[2] He moved to Italy after his birth, living in Castelfranco Veneto and later starting his career at Giorgione Calcio 2000.[3][4] In 2012, at age 9, he moved to London and joined Arsenal's Academy.[5][2]

Valencia

In the summer of 2019, Musah joined Valencia CF and was assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B.[6][7] He made his debut with the B-team at the age of 16 on September 15, 2019, starting in a 0–0 home draw against CF La Nucía.[8] He scored his first senior goal on March 1, 2020, netting his team's only goal in a 1–2 loss at Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[9]

After the arrival of new manager Javi Gracia in Valencia's first team, Musah spent the 2020 pre-season with the main squad.[10] At age 17 years and eight months, he made his first team—and La Liga—debut on September 13 of that year, starting in a 4–2 home win against Levante UD.[11] In doing so, he became the first Englishman to debut for the club.[12]

On November 1, 2020, aged 17 years and 338 days, Musah scored a goal in a 2–2 draw against Getafe CF, becoming the youngest non-Spanish player to score for Valencia, breaking the previous record held by Lee Kang-in, aged 18 years and 219 days.[13] In December 2020, he extended his contract with Valencia until 2026.[14]

International career

Musah is eligible to play for the United States, Ghana, Italy, and England.[15][16] He made his international debut with England's under-15s in 2016 and subsequently represented England up to the under-18 level. He was also called up to the U19 squad in October 2020.[17] A Musah penalty earned England's under-18s a draw against Brazil's under-17s on September 8, 2019,[18] and he went on to score a crucial goal against Austria's under-18s on October 16, 2019, with England winning 3–2.[19] In total, Musah has played over 30 times for England at youth level.[20]

On November 2, 2020, Musah accepted a call-up to the United States senior squad to play in friendlies against Wales and Panama later that month.[21] Musah was part of a largely Europe-based squad which included 10 first-time selections and had an average age of 22.[22] He made his senior international debut on November 11, starting in a 0–0 draw against Wales at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.[23] He then started the following 6–2 win over Panama on November 16.[24]

Despite Musah having played for the United States at the senior level, England senior manager Gareth Southgate revealed that he would attempt to persuade Musah to commit to continue playing for England in the long term, stating: "We're monitoring him. He's been with us in the last couple of months and we'd very much like his future to be with us."[2] England under-21 manager Aidy Boothroyd also stated: "I am hopeful we will see him in the U21s at some point. I don’t know [if he has made his decision]. I hope he hasn’t because I think if he came here and saw what we are all about that he would really enjoy it."[25]

Musah remains eligible for England, Italy, Ghana, and the United States until he plays four official senior matches for a single nation.[26] Musah is reportedly undecided on the question of which nation to represent permanently. He has, however, indicated that he will make a decision on his international future by the international break in March 2021.[2][16]

Career statistics
As of match played January 30, 2021[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Valencia B 2019–20 Segunda División B 171———171
Valencia 2020–21 La Liga 1913[lower-alpha 1]1——222
Career total 362310000393
  1. Appearances in Copa del Rey

References
  1. Straus, Brian. "USMNT Makes Its Case to Another Rising Star With Options". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. "The 'adaptability and hunger' driving Yunus Musah's journey to stardom with USMNT and Valencia". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  3. "Yunus, una Bella Favola che diviene Realtà: Dal Giorgione al Valencia, passando per Arsenal e Nazionale inglese!" [Yunus, a beautiful tale that becomes reality: from Giorgione to Valencia, passing through Arsenal and the English national team!] (in Italian). Stori di Eccellenza. August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  4. "Player Analysis: Yunus Musah". Breaking The Lines. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  5. "El talento inglés que se enamoró del fútbol del sur" [The English talent who fell in love for the southern football] (in Spanish). Las Provincias. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  6. "El Valencia CF Mestalla ficha a dos talentos internacionales" [Valencia CF Mestalla sign two international talents] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. August 9, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  7. "Valencia sign Ghanaian teenager Yunus Musah from Arsenal". Ghana Web. September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  8. "Al Mestalla se le escapa el triunfo con uno más (0–0)" [Mestalla let the win slip away with one more man (0–0)] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  9. "Derrota amarga del Valencia CF Mestalla en casa del Nàstic de Tarragona" [Bittersweet defeat of Valencia CF Mestalla at the home of Nàstic de Tarragona] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. March 1, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  10. "Yunus Musah enamora al valencianismo y a Europa" [Yunus Musah charms the valencianismo and Europe] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. August 23, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  11. "El Valencia supera el pánico" [Valencia overcome the panic] (in Spanish). Marca. September 13, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  12. "Yunus Musah, la última perla de la cantera che" [Yunus Musah, the last pearl of the che youth setup] (in Spanish). Diario AS. September 13, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  13. "Musah, gol y récord" [Musah, goal and record]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). November 1, 2020.
  14. "U.S.-Eligible Yunus Musah Signs Valencia Extension Through 2026". si.com. December 4, 2020.
  15. Cannon, George (November 2, 2020). "Yunus Musah: Things to Know About the Midfielder". 90min. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  16. Feehely, Alan (December 1, 2020). "Kieran Trippier advises Yunus Musah on England future". Football Espana. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  17. The Football Association (October 2, 2020). "YOUNG LIONS SQUAD NAMED FOR DOUBLE-HEADER WITH SCOTLAND AT ST. GEORGE'S PARK". The FA.
  18. Association, The Football. "England MU18s 1-1 Brazil". www.thefa.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  19. Association, The Football. "Young Lions end Euro trip with three wins from three after victory in Austria". www.thefa.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  20. Sousa, Justin (November 9, 2020). "Yunus Musah: Journey to the USMNT". Scouted Football. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  21. Tenorio, Paul. "Valencia's Yunus Musah to get USMNT call-up in roster for friendly vs. Wales". The Athletic. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  22. "England Under-18 Star Yunus Musah Called Up to USA Squad". 90min.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  23. "England and the United States fighting to secure Yunus Musah's services". Marca. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  24. "Goal-Scoring Outbursts Fuel Young USMNT Past Panama 6–2 in Austria". ussoccer.com. November 16, 2020.
  25. "'I hope Musah hasn't chosen the USMNT' - Boothroyd admits England still hope to win race for Valencia wonderkid | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  26. "International eligibility rules loosened". BBC Sport. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  27. Yunus Musah at Soccerway
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