Whiz kid Jerry Afriyie has exclusively told GHANASoccernet.com he did not join Saudi side Al Qadsiah for the money.
The 18-year-old brimming with promising prospect was expected tipped to move to the major European leagues after bursting onto the season last year.
But he shockingly penned a three -and a half-year deal with a club in the Gulf which has become home for players at the twilight of their careers.
Afriyie told GHANASoccernet.com: ”I see this project similar to what brought me out. I’m focused on my development and the timing. I think football is doing well everywhere especially here and I must definitely start from somewhere.”
Al-Qadsiyah have loaned the teenager to Spanish lower side CD Lugo to continue his development till the end of the current.
On that, he said: ”It is in God’s hands and I’m willing to play my part.”
Afriyie’s standout performances for the Ghana U20 team at the 2023 WAFU Zone B Tournament in Togo earned him a debut call-up to the Black Stars for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger.
The then Thoughts FC player marked his senior national team debut with a goal, although Ghana suffered a 1-2 defeat to Niger.
He claimed the Golden Boot at the WAFU Zone B regional competition, where Ghana finished second to Nigeria, securing qualification for the U20 AFCON in Ivory Coast in April.
Afriyie was instrumental in Ghana’s U20 squad that won the 2024 African Games, hosted by Ghana, and emerged as the tournament’s top scorer.