Kevin-Prince Boateng (About this soundpronunciation (help·info) pronounced [ˈkɛvɪn pʁɪns bo.aˈtɛŋ]; born 6 March 1987), is a professional footballer who plays for Italian club Fiorentina.
A midfielder who can also play as a forward, Boateng is known for his strength, footspeed and ball-juggling tricks.[7][8] A 2014 profile on FIFA's official website described Boateng as "blessed with strength, speed, killer instinct in front of goal, and an uncommon flamboyance in the attacking third."[9]
Throughout his career, Boateng has represented various clubs in Germany and Italy, and also had spells in England and Spain.
Born in Germany, he represented Germany internationally at youth level, although at senior level he later represented Ghana 15 times between 2010 and 2014, scoring two goals, and took part at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups with the team.
Club career
Early career
Reinickendorfer Füchse
Boateng started his club career with the club Reinickendorfer Füchse in early 1994 at age six prior to signing for Hertha BSC on 1 July 1994 at the age of seven, first playing for them to 31 July 2007 when he was 20 years old.[10]
Early time with Hertha BSC
Hertha BSC II
After emerging from the Hertha feeder teams, Boateng played for Hertha BSC II for two seasons. He was promoted to the Hertha first team squad in the 2005–06 season.[7]
Hertha BSC
Boateng made his first team debut in a 2–0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the second round of the 2005–06 Bundesliga season on 13 August 2005 at the Olympic Stadium, being brought on at the beginning of the second half.[11]
Boateng was awarded the Fritz Walter Bronze Medal Award in the Under-18 category in 2005.[12] Boateng started his first Bundesliga match in a 2–2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 14th round of the Bundesliga season.
On 27 July 2006, Boateng was awarded the Fritz Walter Gold Medal in the Under-19 category.[12]
Tottenham Hotspur
Boateng signed a four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur in July 2007 for a reported £5.4 million, securing him ahead of UEFA Cup holders Sevilla.[13] His success at the club was limited,[14] and he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January 2009 for the remainder of the season.[15]
Borussia Dortmund (loan)
He made ten Bundesliga appearances during his loan, but was forced to miss the final two matches of the season for a suspension of four matches imposed by the German Football Association (DFB) following a tough challenge and "no-nonsense flying kick" to the head of VfL Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe.[16]
Dortmund were eager to sign Boateng permanently at the end of the season, but financial constraints prevented them from doing so
English Premier League club Portsmouth signed Boateng on a three-year contract in August 2009 for a reported fee of around £4 million.[19][20] On 12 September 2009, he scored his first goal for the club against Bolton Wanderers,[21] and was named Portsmouth's joint Player of the Month.[22] He finished his only season at the club with three goals in 22 Premier League games as they were relegated amidst financial disarray.
In May 2010, Portsmouth played Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, which Chelsea won 1–0. During the match, Boateng fouled Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, injuring Ballack's ankle and ruling him out of the impending 2010 World Cup. Boateng claimed that Ballack slapped him in the face prior to this, and that he apologised to Ballack personally for the tackle which left him injured.[23][24][25][26][27]
Boateng called the German media and the German national team players hypocrites for backing Ballack whilst ignoring his slap on the pitch.[28] Boateng also criticised Joachim Löw for protecting Ballack after he slapped striker Lukas Podolski in a German national football team training match the previous year.
On 30 August 2013, Milan announced that Boateng had been transferred to German Bundesliga club Schalke 04 for a €10 million transfer fee[44] on a four-year contract due to expire in June 2017.[45]
Boateng made his debut for Schalke 04 in a 2–0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen.[46] On 14 September 2013, he scored the winning goal for Schalke 04 in a 1–0 win over Mainz 05.[47] On 30 October 2013, Boateng was voted the Schalke 04 player of the month for October 2013 by fans.[48] On 9 November 2013, Boateng scored two goals against Werder Bremen; Schalke 04 won the match 3–1.[49][50] Boateng scored seven Bundesliga goals over the season as Schalke finished in third place.[51]
On 11 May 2015, Boateng, alongside Sidney Sam and Marco Höger, was suspended indefinitely from the club in the aftermath of a defeat against 1. FC Köln as a result of poor behaviour which claimed to have led to the club's poor domestic performances.[52][53]
His contract with Schalke was terminated on 8 December 2015.[54]
Return to Milan
As Schalke 04 terminated his contract in December 2015, Boateng re-joined Milan on 5 January 2016 on a free transfer and signed a six-month contract.[citation needed] He was training with Milan since his suspension in September 2015.[55] He made his official return debut on 9 January 2016, playing 36 minutes against Roma in a 1–1 draw and scored his first goal in his first match back at the San Siro six days later against Fiorentina in a 2–0 win.[56]
On 25 May 2016, club owner Silvio Berlusconi announced Boateng's departure, along with those of Alex, Philippe Mexès and Mario Balotelli.[57]
Las Palmas
On 2 August 2016, Spanish La Liga club Las Palmas announced that they had reached an agreement with Boateng for his signature following his release from Milan.[58] He made his debut on 22 August 2016 in a 4–2 away win against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium.[59] On 24 October Boateng scored a goal against Villarreal which was regarded by some pundits as one of the best goals of La Liga that year.[60]
On 16 August 2017, Las Palmas announced that Boateng had cancelled his contract by the club by mutual consent, citing "irreversible personal reasons" for the decision.[61]
Eintracht Frankfurt
On 18 August 2017, Boateng completed his move to Eintracht Frankfurt on a three-year deal.[62]
Sassuolo
On 5 July 2018, Boateng signed with Sassuolo on a three-year deal.[63][64]
Barcelona (loan)
Boateng joined Spanish La Liga club Barcelona on 21 January 2019 on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season, with the club holding an option to sign him permanently for a €8 million transfer fee.[65] He has joined the Catalan side to serve as a backup for Luis Suárez after Munir El Haddadi was sold to Sevilla.[66] The transfer made him the first Ghanaian ever to represent the club.[67] He made his club debut on 23 January, in a 2–0 away defeat to Sevilla in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.[68]
Fiorentina
On 30 July 2019, Boateng signed with ACF Fiorentina.[69] He made his debut for the club on 24 August in the opening game of the 2019–20 Serie A season, coming on as a substitute in the second half and scoring a goal in an eventual 4–3 home loss to Napoli.
A midfielder who can also play as a forward, Boateng is known for his strength, footspeed and ball-juggling tricks.[7][8] A 2014 profile on FIFA's official website described Boateng as "blessed with strength, speed, killer instinct in front of goal, and an uncommon flamboyance in the attacking third."[9]
Throughout his career, Boateng has represented various clubs in Germany and Italy, and also had spells in England and Spain.
Born in Germany, he represented Germany internationally at youth level, although at senior level he later represented Ghana 15 times between 2010 and 2014, scoring two goals, and took part at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups with the team.
Club career
Early career
Reinickendorfer Füchse
Boateng started his club career with the club Reinickendorfer Füchse in early 1994 at age six prior to signing for Hertha BSC on 1 July 1994 at the age of seven, first playing for them to 31 July 2007 when he was 20 years old.[10]
Early time with Hertha BSC
Hertha BSC II
After emerging from the Hertha feeder teams, Boateng played for Hertha BSC II for two seasons. He was promoted to the Hertha first team squad in the 2005–06 season.[7]
Hertha BSC
Boateng made his first team debut in a 2–0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the second round of the 2005–06 Bundesliga season on 13 August 2005 at the Olympic Stadium, being brought on at the beginning of the second half.[11]
Boateng was awarded the Fritz Walter Bronze Medal Award in the Under-18 category in 2005.[12] Boateng started his first Bundesliga match in a 2–2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 14th round of the Bundesliga season.
On 27 July 2006, Boateng was awarded the Fritz Walter Gold Medal in the Under-19 category.[12]
Tottenham Hotspur
Boateng signed a four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur in July 2007 for a reported £5.4 million, securing him ahead of UEFA Cup holders Sevilla.[13] His success at the club was limited,[14] and he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January 2009 for the remainder of the season.[15]
Borussia Dortmund (loan)
He made ten Bundesliga appearances during his loan, but was forced to miss the final two matches of the season for a suspension of four matches imposed by the German Football Association (DFB) following a tough challenge and "no-nonsense flying kick" to the head of VfL Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe.[16]
Dortmund were eager to sign Boateng permanently at the end of the season, but financial constraints prevented them from doing so
English Premier League club Portsmouth signed Boateng on a three-year contract in August 2009 for a reported fee of around £4 million.[19][20] On 12 September 2009, he scored his first goal for the club against Bolton Wanderers,[21] and was named Portsmouth's joint Player of the Month.[22] He finished his only season at the club with three goals in 22 Premier League games as they were relegated amidst financial disarray.
In May 2010, Portsmouth played Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, which Chelsea won 1–0. During the match, Boateng fouled Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, injuring Ballack's ankle and ruling him out of the impending 2010 World Cup. Boateng claimed that Ballack slapped him in the face prior to this, and that he apologised to Ballack personally for the tackle which left him injured.[23][24][25][26][27]
Boateng called the German media and the German national team players hypocrites for backing Ballack whilst ignoring his slap on the pitch.[28] Boateng also criticised Joachim Löw for protecting Ballack after he slapped striker Lukas Podolski in a German national football team training match the previous year.
On 30 August 2013, Milan announced that Boateng had been transferred to German Bundesliga club Schalke 04 for a €10 million transfer fee[44] on a four-year contract due to expire in June 2017.[45]
Boateng made his debut for Schalke 04 in a 2–0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen.[46] On 14 September 2013, he scored the winning goal for Schalke 04 in a 1–0 win over Mainz 05.[47] On 30 October 2013, Boateng was voted the Schalke 04 player of the month for October 2013 by fans.[48] On 9 November 2013, Boateng scored two goals against Werder Bremen; Schalke 04 won the match 3–1.[49][50] Boateng scored seven Bundesliga goals over the season as Schalke finished in third place.[51]
On 11 May 2015, Boateng, alongside Sidney Sam and Marco Höger, was suspended indefinitely from the club in the aftermath of a defeat against 1. FC Köln as a result of poor behaviour which claimed to have led to the club's poor domestic performances.[52][53]
His contract with Schalke was terminated on 8 December 2015.[54]
Return to Milan
As Schalke 04 terminated his contract in December 2015, Boateng re-joined Milan on 5 January 2016 on a free transfer and signed a six-month contract.[citation needed] He was training with Milan since his suspension in September 2015.[55] He made his official return debut on 9 January 2016, playing 36 minutes against Roma in a 1–1 draw and scored his first goal in his first match back at the San Siro six days later against Fiorentina in a 2–0 win.[56]
On 25 May 2016, club owner Silvio Berlusconi announced Boateng's departure, along with those of Alex, Philippe Mexès and Mario Balotelli.[57]
Las Palmas
On 2 August 2016, Spanish La Liga club Las Palmas announced that they had reached an agreement with Boateng for his signature following his release from Milan.[58] He made his debut on 22 August 2016 in a 4–2 away win against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium.[59] On 24 October Boateng scored a goal against Villarreal which was regarded by some pundits as one of the best goals of La Liga that year.[60]
On 16 August 2017, Las Palmas announced that Boateng had cancelled his contract by the club by mutual consent, citing "irreversible personal reasons" for the decision.[61]
Eintracht Frankfurt
On 18 August 2017, Boateng completed his move to Eintracht Frankfurt on a three-year deal.[62]
Sassuolo
On 5 July 2018, Boateng signed with Sassuolo on a three-year deal.[63][64]
Barcelona (loan)
Boateng joined Spanish La Liga club Barcelona on 21 January 2019 on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season, with the club holding an option to sign him permanently for a €8 million transfer fee.[65] He has joined the Catalan side to serve as a backup for Luis Suárez after Munir El Haddadi was sold to Sevilla.[66] The transfer made him the first Ghanaian ever to represent the club.[67] He made his club debut on 23 January, in a 2–0 away defeat to Sevilla in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.[68]
Fiorentina
On 30 July 2019, Boateng signed with ACF Fiorentina.[69] He made his debut for the club on 24 August in the opening game of the 2019–20 Serie A season, coming on as a substitute in the second half and scoring a goal in an eventual 4–3 home loss to Napoli.
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