Boateng: The Speedy

Emmanuel Boateng is most known for being a speedster forward for the LA Galaxy. Boateng often cuts in from the wing to cause issue for the back line in following his movements. Ema’s passing, movement and ability to dribble are the keys to his talent. A talent that has been shown throughout his over 200 appearances across all competitions starting in the U-21 Helsingborgs IF team. Beyond his attacking prowess, Boateng also strives to be a player who comes back and makes important game breaking tackles. His defensive stats are well padded over the years. In the major years with LA, Ema was making 25+ tackles and interceptions per season, very high among forwards of his style.

2006-2013

In 2006, when Boateng was 12, he joined the Right To Dream academy near Akosombo, a small town of the Eastern Region of Ghana. He went on to flourish out of the academy, academically and in soccer. He ended up moving to the United States in 2009, to join the Cate School in California on a scholarship. By 2012, when he was 18, Ema was a frequent player with the Santa Barbara Soccer Club and other teams, while also still playing for Cate School. In that year, he received the Gatorade High School Player of the Year award. During his time at Cate, Manchester City called for him to go on trial. He went and ultimately decided not to take the call.

2013-2015

Most fans who haven’t followed him outside of MLS don’t know he also featured for a Swedish 1st division side. He played for Helsingborgs IF in the Allsvenskan from 2013 to 2015. With HIF, Ema took part in the Svenska Cupen over three years, featuring in seven games, scoring three times. He was a player for the Helsingborgs IF U-21 team in both 2013 and 2014. In 18 appearances for the U-21 team, Boateng scored 10 goals and assisted three times. He ended up in Sweden after performing well in the USL for Ventura County Fusion. Ema was offered a chance to train with HIF and they snatched him up shortly after the trial.

2016-2019

Boateng was a force to be reckoned with while with the LA Galaxy, causing issue coming off the bench. He would also often go for a shortened run out of a start. Either way, Ema put a stamp on the Galaxy every chance that he got. 2018 was definitely the year he truly showed his ability. Not only did he put his foot towards seven goal creating chances and created 42 shots with his passes and dribbling. His dribbling was fantastic, successfully juking the player 70 percent of the time out of 28 attempts. He also attempted 21 tackles and completed 14 of them. Most of which, occurred in the middle third, where he could create counter attacks with his speed and passing.

How Will Boateng Be Employed By The Revs?

“Ema’s character and professionalism will be welcomed additions to our team, and we look forward to his arrival in Foxborough.”

Bruce Arena

Arena sees Boateng as a great left-footed attacking veteran. This was a position we lacked in as Penilla fell out of form and ended up injured. Ema will help be a great super-sub for whoever Bruce pulls in for the left-mid, left winger position top spot. He’s currently looking to bring in Arnor Traustason, a left-mid Icelandic player who plays at Malmo FF in Sweden. If Traustason is brought in, crazily enough, Boateng has faced him in the Allsvenskan. Arnor played for Norrköping from 2014-2016 and at least met Boateng on the field three times with them, if only for a few minutes.

The other major importance is his knowledge of the players of the league. The LA Galaxy teams that Boateng played on had players like Ibrahimovic, Donovan, Ashley Cole, Robbie Keane, and Steven Gerrard. He knows what a team with great players can achieve if they play well together.