10 fun facts about Yunus Musah
Yunus Musah is an American professional soccer player who primarily operates as a midfielder. Born on November 29, 2002, in New York City, United States, Musah’s family relocated to Castelfranco Veneto, Italy, shortly after his birth. It was there that he embarked on his youth career with Giorgione Calcio 2000. However, in 2012, at the…
Yunus Musah is an American professional soccer player who primarily operates as a midfielder. Born on November 29, 2002, in New York City, United States, Musah’s family relocated to Castelfranco Veneto, Italy, shortly after his birth. It was there that he embarked on his youth career with Giorgione Calcio 2000.
However, in 2012, at the age of nine, Musah’s family moved again, this time to London, where he joined Arsenal’s Academy. He spent a remarkable seven years with the Gunners’ youth setup. In 2019, Musah made a significant move to Spain, joining Valencia’s youth setup. Since then, he has steadily progressed through the ranks. Musah’s dedication and talent earned him 92 appearances for Valencia’s senior squad, and he was promoted to the first team in 2020.
On August 4, 2023, Musah made another exciting move, this time to Serie A club AC Milan, for a transfer fee of €18m ($19.8m) plus €2m ($2.2m) in bonuses. He signed a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2028. Musah chose to wear the number 80, previously donned by the legendary Ronaldinho. At the age of 20, on September 19, Musah made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute in the 72nd minute against Newcastle United.
He showcased his skills further on October 7, providing his first assist for Milan in a pass to Christian Pulisic during their 1-0 victory over Genoa. Now, let’s explore ten fascinating facts about Musah.
1. His brother is his agent
Abdul Musah, the older brother of Musah, has been overseeing Yunus’ off-field affairs as his agent and mentor since they were young. Despite not having a background in football, Abdul has willingly assumed the role of representing Yunus in financial matters related to his career.
2. American by birth
Yunus Musah, born on November 29, 2002, in New York, arrived into this world while his mother was enjoying a holiday. His parents, originally from Ghana, had journeyed to the United States from Italy for a vacation. Following the regulations governing foreign births in the United States, Musah was granted US citizenship, enabling him to represent the United States men’s national team.
3. Holds multiple citizenship
Yunus Musah possesses an impressive quadruple national team eligibility. He holds US citizenship by birth, Ghanaian citizenship through his parents, and also acquired Italian and British citizenship during his time in those respective countries. As a result, Musah has the opportunity to represent England, Ghana, Italy, or the United States on the international stage.
Notably, he has recently showcased his skills for England’s Under-18 team, previously leading their U15, U16, and U17 squads as captain. However, in 2020, Musah made the decision to switch his allegiance to the USMNT for senior-level competition, citing the intense competition in England as a factor in his choice.
4. First Englishman to play for Los Che
In a remarkable turn of events, the midfielder made history by becoming the inaugural English player to don the Valencia jersey, a mere year after joining their reserves team. This noteworthy achievement occurred on September 13th, 2020.
It is worth noting that despite his subsequent representation of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT), the midfielder’s record as the first Englishman to play for Valencia remains intact, as he was still proudly representing England at the time.
5. He is multilingual
In addition to being a skilled footballer, the midfielder possesses the ability to speak multiple languages. At the age of 20, he has mastered five languages, namely English, Italian, Spanish, Hausa, and Dagbani. His proficiency in Spanish was acquired during his stint at Valencia.
6. Youngest non-Spaniard to score for Los Che
On November 1, 2020, at the age of 17 years and 338 days, he took part in a match against Getafe, contributing to his team’s 2-2 draw. His exceptional display during the game elevated him to the title of Valencia’s youngest non-Spanish goalscorer. He surpassed the previous record set earlier that year by Kang-In Lee, a South Korean winger, who had scored for Los Che at the age of 18 years and 219 days.
7. Has served as Captain
Musah’s impressive performances at Arsenal’s youth squad earned him his initial call-ups to England’s youth team. Once he made his debut for England under 15, his coaches showered him with commendations, propelling him to swiftly climb the ranks of the youth set-up.
Not only did he become a captain for these teams, but he also garnered immense respect from both players and coaches in the dressing room. Musah went on to captain the England U15, England U16, and England U18 squads, solidifying his reputation as a highly regarded figure in the team.
8. Shifting to the USMNT
After beginning his career with the English youth teams, Musah found himself faced with a significant decision when the USMNT expressed interest. Gregg Berhalter extended an invitation to the young player, offering him the chance to start for the senior team.
This was an incredible opportunity for Musah, especially considering the upcoming World Cup and England’s already established squad. Recognizing the potential, Musah accepted the call-up from the United States and went on to represent his new team in friendly matches against Wales in November and Panama in December of 2020.
9. Persuaded by manager, Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate, the senior manager of England, was captivated by Yunus Musah’s exceptional display, expressing his determination to convince the 18-year-old prodigious player to pledge his allegiance to the national team for an extended period. Conversely, Musah had previously showcased his skills at the senior level while representing the United States, marking it as a significant milestone in his professional career.
10. Helped his mum run a Ghanaian restaurant
During their stay in Italy, Amina Musah, the mother of Yunus, ventured into the restaurant business and established a dining establishment in Castelfranco Veneto. This particular restaurant specialized in serving authentic Ghanaian cuisine, catering to the cravings of Ghanaians residing in Italy.
The restaurant swiftly gained popularity among the Ghanaian community, attracting hundreds of customers on a weekly basis. Yunus, recognizing the opportunity to assist his mother, actively participated in the restaurant’s operations, and it was within this environment that he acquired proficiency in the Dagbani language.
