Ebenezer Ofori (born 1 July 1995) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for Danish club Vejle Boldklub as a midfielder.[2]

Ebenezer Ofori
Ofori with VfB Stuttgart in 2017
Personal information
Full name Ebenezer Ofori[1]
Date of birth (1995-07-01) 1 July 1995 (age 29)[1]
Place of birth Kumasi, Ghana
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Vejle
Number 15
Youth career
–2012 New Edubiase United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 New Edubiase United 17 (4)
2013–2016 AIK 81 (4)
2017–2020 VfB Stuttgart 10 (0)
2018–2019New York City (loan) 47 (3)
2020–2022 AIK 32 (0)
2022Vejle (loan) 14 (0)
2022– Vejle 48 (0)
International career
2013 Ghana U20 7 (0)
2017– Ghana 9 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 April 2023

Club career

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New Edubiase

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Ofori started his career in his native country Ghana, playing in the Ghana Premier League for Ashanti-based side New Edubiase United.[3][4][5] He played 17 league matches and scored 4 goals in his debut top flight season. The club was entitled to a percentage on future transfers after selling him to AIK in 2013.[5]

In August 2013, Ofori joined Swedish side AIK on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[3][4] He was presented to the fans on 3 August 2013, at half-time during the club's 2–1 win over Elfsborg at the Friends Arena in the Allsvenskan.[3][4] He made his debut for AIK against Manchester United in a friendly 2013.[6] He made his official debut on 25 August 2018, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 loss against Halmstad.[7] During his first stint with the club he played 101 competition matches for AIK between 2013 and 2016.[8]

VfB Stuttgart

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The Ghanaian midfielder completed his move to VfB Stuttgart in the 2. Bundesliga during the January transfer window on 31 January 2017,[9] after the Africa Cup of Nations with the Black Stars. He helped Stuttgart to emerge champions of the German second-tier league and secure promotion back to the German top flight.[2]

New York City

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On 21 February 2018, Ofori joined MLS side New York City FC on loan until the end of the 2018 MLS season.[10] He played 28 league matches in his debut season.[2] His loan was extended to continue for the 2019 MLS season.[11] In the second season he played 20 league matches.[2]

Return to AIK

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On 9 January 2020 it was announced that he will rejoin AIK for the 2020 Allsvenskan season on a permanent deal.[12][8]

Vejle

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On 13 January 2022, Ofori was loaned out to Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub until July 2022.[13] On 15 June 2022, Ofori moved to Vejle on a permanent basis and signed a two-year contract.[14]

International career

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Ofori was called up to the Ghana national football team for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.[15] He made his debut for Ghana in a 1–0 loss to Burkina Faso national football team on 4 February 2017.[16] He scored in his second game for the Black Stars in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia.[17]

International goals

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Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first.[18]
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 June 2017 Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana   Ethiopia 3–0 5–0 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Club statistics

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As of 6 October 2023[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
New Edubiase 2012–13 Premier League 17 4 17 4
AIK 2013 Allsvenskan 4 0 1 0 5 0
2014 23 1 1 0 2 0 26 1
2015 27 0 4 0 5 1 36 1
2016 27 3 1 0 6 0 34 3
VfB Stuttgart 2016–17 2. Bundesliga 9 0 0 0 9 0
2017–18 Bundesliga 1 0 1 0 2 0
Total 10 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
New York City (loan) 2018 Major League Soccer 28 1 1 0 29 1
2019 20 2 1 0 21 2
Total 48 3 2 0 0 0 50 3
AIK 2019 Allsvenskan 0 0 4 1 0 0 4 1
2020 16 0 1 0 0 0 17 0
2021 16 0 1 0 0 0 17 0
Total 32 0 6 1 0 0 38 1
Vejle (loan) 2021–22 Superliga 14 0 2 0 16 0
Vejle 2022–23 1. Division 27 0 2 0 29 0
2023–24 Superliga 9 0 1 0 10 0
Total 50 0 5 0 0 0 55 0
Career total 238 11 23 1 13 1 272 13

Honours

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VfB Stuttgart

Ghana U-20

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: Ghana" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 June 2013. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ebenezer Ofori at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b c "PHOTOS: New Edubiase United defender Ebenezer Ofori unveiled by AIK Stockholm". GhanaSoccernet. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Photos: New Edubiase United Defender Ebenezer Ofori Unveiled By Aik Stockholm". Modern Ghana. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "New Edubiase smiling to bank following sale of Ebenezer Ofori to German side VfB Stuttgart". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b Gyimah, Edmund Okai (6 August 2013). "AIK to field newly acquired Ofori against Manchester United | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Halmstad vs. AIK - 25 August 2013 - Soccerway". gh.soccerway.com. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b Teye, Prince Narkortu (9 January 2020). "Ghana international Ebenezer Ofori rejoins AIK from Stuttgart | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  9. ^ "VfB sign Ebenezer Ofori". VfB Stuttgart. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  10. ^ "New York City FC Signs Ebenezer Ofori".
  11. ^ "Ebenezer Ofori Returns on Loan for New York City FC". New York City FC. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Ebenezer Ofori återvänder till AIK Fotboll". AIK Fotboll (in Swedish). Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  13. ^ Vejle Boldklub lejer midtbanekriger i AIK Stockholm Archived 2022-01-13 at the Wayback Machine, vejle-boldklub.dk, 13 January 2022
  14. ^ "Vejle Boldklub køber Ebenezer Ofori" (in Danish). Vejle. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  15. ^ "News Details". www.ghanafa.org. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. ^ Football, CAF - Confederation of African. "CAF - Competitions - 31th Edition of African Cup of Nation Total, Gabon 2017 - Match Details". www.cafonline.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  17. ^ "VIDEO: Stuttgart star Ebenezer Ofori scores 'classy' debut Black Stars goal - GHANAsoccernet.com". social_image. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Ofori, Ebenezer". National Football Teams. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Ebenezer Ofori » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  20. ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 – News – Three A's see Ghana finish third – FIFA.com". fifa.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  21. ^ "VIDEO: Ebenezer Ofori named 2015 Swedish League Best Midfielder – GHANAsoccernet.com". social_image. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2017.