Jerome Opoku

Jerome Osei Opoku (born 14 October 1998) is a professional footballer. He plays as a centre-back for Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir. Born in England, he plays for the Ghana national team.

Jerome Opoku

Personal information
Full name	Jerome Osei Opoku[1]
Date of birth	(1998-10-14) 14 October 1998 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth	Lambeth, England
Height	1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in)[2]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	İstanbul Başakşehir
Number	3
Youth career
2009–2019	Fulham
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	Fulham	0	(0)
2019–2020	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)	21	(0)
2020–2021	→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)	33	(1)
2021–2022	→ Vejle (loan)	20	(0)
2022–2024	Arouca	26	(0)
2023–2024	→ İstanbul Başakşehir (loan)	28	(4)
2024–	İstanbul Başakşehir	33	(3)
International career‡
2023–	Ghana	3	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 20 June 2024

Club career

He captained the Fulham U23s at the end of the 2018–19 season.^[3]

On 2 September 2019, Opoku was sent on loan to League One side Accrington Stanley in order to gain first team experience.^[4] He made his Accrington debut against Bristol Rovers on 7 September 2019 in an eventual 3–3 draw. After a 3–1 defeat to Sunderland, in an interview he claimed he would play anywhere the coach put him.^[5]

On 25 September 2020, Opoku joined League One side Plymouth Argyle on loan until January.^[6]

On 30 July 2021, Opoku was loaned out again, this time to Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub, for the entire 2021–22 season.^[7]

On 24 June 2022, Opoku joined Portuguese Primeira Liga side Arouca on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract.^[8][9]

On 14 September 2023, Opoku signed a one-year contract extension with Arouca, until 2026,^[10] and was immediately sent on a season-long loan to Süper Lig side İstanbul Başakşehir.^[11]

International career

Born in England, Opoku is of Ghanaian descent.^[12] On 18 October 2023, he debuted for the Ghana national team in a friendly loss to the United States national team.^[13]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 August 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fulham U21	2017–18[14]	Premier League 2	—								1[a]	0	1	0
	2018–19[15]	Premier League 2	—								2[b]	0	2	0
	Total		—								3	0	3	0
Accrington Stanley (loan)	2019–20[16]	League One	21	0	1	0	0	0	—		3[b]	0	25	0
Plymouth Argyle (loan)	2020–21[17]	League One	33	1	4	0	0	0	—		1[b]	0	38	1
Vejle Boldklub (loan)	2021–22[18]	Danish Superliga	20	0	6	0	—		—		—		26	0
Arouca	2022–23	Primeira Liga	24	0	2	0	3	1	—		—		29	1
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	2	0	0	0	0	0	2[c]	0	—		4	0
	Total		26	0	2	0	3	1	2	0	—		33	1
İstanbul Başakşehir	2023–24	Süper Lig	0	0	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Total			100	1	13	0	3	1	2	0	7	0	125	2

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League