Emmanuel Boateng

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed from Helsingborgs (Sweden) on Jan. 14, 2016

MLS Highlights

2017: Boateng played in all 34 games for the Galaxy in 2017, starting in 29 of the contests in his second season of MLS. Boateng recorded four goals and two assists on the season, including a game-winning goal against Real Salt Lake on March 18.

2016: In his first year in MLS, Boateng was quick to win over Galaxy fans. The midfielder was dangerous on the left flank in many of his 26 appearances on the season. Boateng recorded two goals and five assists on the season, including a Team of the Week Nomination in Week 8 for his one goal, two assist performance against Real Salt Lake on April 23. Boateng also impressed in his two-goal performance against Real Salt Lake in the Knockout Round.

Career Highlights

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.