CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016) – The LA Galaxy have signed forward Emmanuel Boateng, the club announced today. The Ghanaian, who joins after featuring for Helsingborgs IF in Sweden, will be added to the Galaxy’s roster as an International pending P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Emmanuel is a talented, young, attacking player who will add valuable depth to our offense,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena. “He will continue to develop as a player and we are excited to add him to our roster.”
Born in Accra, Ghana, Boateng joined an African soccer developmental program, the Right to Dream Academy, and went on to earn a scholarship at the age of 15 to Cate School, a boarding school in Carpinteria, California. During his time at the Cate School, Boateng featured for local club sides Santa Barbara Soccer Club and South Coast Strikers. In 2011, he was named MVP of the prestigious Milk Cup, an international youth soccer tournament featuring the world’s brightest young talent.
While at the Cate School, Boateng won honors as the 2012 Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year, given to the top high-school soccer player in the United States. He was also named the CIF Southern Division 7 Player of the Year in both 2011 and 2012, leading his team to a 42-2-1 record and CIF Southern Division 7 Championships in both years. In his final season at Cate School, the Ghanaian scored 32 goals and added 19 assists. Boateng was a dual-sport star, featuring in track and reaching the quarterfinals in the 100 and 200 meters in the 2011 CIF Southern Division.
Boateng skipped his senior year at Cate School to attend University of California, Santa Barbara, where he made an immediate impact as a freshman, scoring four goals. That year, he earned honors as Big West’s Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big West.
After playing for Ventura County Fusion in the PDL during the summer of 2013, Boateng signed his first professional contract with Helsingborgs IF of Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top-flight professional division. Since 2013, he has made 37 appearances, scoring four goals.
