Asumah Abubakar

Asumah Abubakar-Ankrah (born 10 May 1997) is a footballer who most recently played as a forward for Australian club Brisbane Roar. Born in Ghana, he is a youth international for Portugal.

Asumah Abubakar

Personal information
Full name	Asumah Abubakar-Ankrah
Date of birth	(1997-05-10) 10 May 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Kumasi, Ghana
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Corners Babies
2015–2016	Willem II
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2018	Willem II	16	(0)
2018–2019	MVV Maastricht	27	(0)
2019–2021	Kriens	47	(22)
2021–2022	Lugano	37	(5)
2022–2024	Luzern	53	(9)
2024–2025	Grasshoppers	25	(2)
2025	Brisbane Roar	11	(4)
International career
2016	Portugal U19	2	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 June 2025

Club career

Born in Kumasi, Ghana, Abubakar had a successful trial with Willem II in the summer of 2015, but he had to wait to the following year to sign a contract due to work permit problems. He eventually received a Portuguese passport as his father had been working in the nation for several years,^[1][2] and on 2 March 2016 he committed to the Dutch club on a short-term deal.^[3]

On 2 April 2016, whilst still a junior, Abubakar made his senior debut, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–3 Eredivisie home loss against FC Twente.^[4] He transferred to MVV Maastricht for the 2018-2019 season on a free transfer.^[5] After 27 appearances and another goalless season Abubakar transferred to Swiss club SC Kriens.^[6] On 28 July 2019, he would score his first professional goal against FC Aarau after being subbed on in the 71st minute.^[7] He ended the season third in the top scorer rankings.^[6] In his second season, despite Kriens finishing mid-table, he again finished third in the scoring charts and won the Switzerland Challenge League Best Player Award.^[8][9] Abubakar transferred to Swiss Super League club FC Lugano at the start of the 2021-2022 season for 100,000 Euros.^[10] He scored his first goal for Lugano on his third appearance in a 1–1 draw with FC Basel.^[11]

On 14 January 2022, Abubakar signed a contract with Luzern until 30 June 2024.^[12]

On 29 January 2024, he transferred to Grasshoppers for an undisclosed fee.^[13] He signed a one-and-a-half-year contract, running until summer 2025, and rejoins his former coach Bruno Berner, whom he had worked with at Kriens. He debuted two days later in a midweek league match against his former club FC Lugano, coming on for the final 30 minutes of the 0–0 draw.^[14] After bringing some much needed offensive power in his debut, he was nominated to the starting lineup for the next two games. However, in the second, a Zürich Derby match, he was sent off after pushing over FC Zürich midfielder Bledian Krasniqi during a confrontation after only twelve minutes played.^[15] This was his first career sending off. He finally scored his first goal in the Grasshopper dress on 4 May 2024, scoring the team's first goal in 3–2 home win over FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy.^[16] In the same game he also scored two disallowed goals from offside positions. On 31 May 2024, he scored the all important winning goal in the 91st minute in the second leg of the relegation play-off against FC Thun, thus securing Grasshoppers's place in the Swiss Super League^[17]

Despite this heroic feat, he barely featured for the club in his second season, making just seven appearances and one start during the first half of the season. On 7 January 2025, his contract with Grasshoppers was terminated by mutual consent.^[18]

On 12 February 2025, he signed for Brisbane Roar in the Australian A-League.^[19] On 25 June 2025, Brisbane Roar announced that Abubakar would be departing the club after rejecting a new contract.^[20]

International career

Having acquired Portuguese citizenship, Abubakar chose to represent that country.^[21] On 16 June 2016, he was selected for a 23-man preliminary list for the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship^[22] and also made the final squad, scoring in a 4–3 group stage win over the hosts Germany.^[23] Shortly after, however, after doubts arose regarding his eligibility, the Portuguese Football Federation opted to immediately remove him from the competition pending further approval.^[24]

Career statistics

Club

As of 7 January 2025^[25]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Willem II	2015–16	Eredivisie	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2016–17		15	0	1	0	—		—		16	0
	2017–18		0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		16	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
MVV	2018–19	Eerste Divisie	27	0	1	0	—		—		28	0
Kriens	2019–20	Challenge League	36	15	1	0	—		—		37	15
	2020–21		11	7	1	0	—		—		12	7
	Total		47	22	2	0	0	0	0	0	49	22
Lugano	2020–21	Super League	20	2	2	0	—		—		22	2
	2021–22		16	3	2	1	—		—		18	4
	Total		36	5	4	1	0	0	0	0	40	6
Luzern	2021–22	Super League	18	5	2	1	—		2[a]	0	22	6
	2022–23		28	3	3	0	—		—		31	3
	2023–24		7	1	1	0	1[b]	0	—		9	1
	Total		53	8	6	1	1	0	2	0	62	10
Grasshopper	2023–24	Super League	16	1	—		—		2[c]	1	18	2
	2024–25		7	0	0	0	—		—		7	0
	Total		23	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	25	2
Career total			202	37	14	2	1	0	4	1	214	41

1. Matches in the relegation play-off.
2. Matches in 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying.
3. Matches in the relegation play-off.