New Liverpool star Wijnaldum drops his Ghanaian name Boateng

New Liverpool signing Georginio Wijnaldum has revealed that he has dropped his Ghanaian name Boateng which he had for years.

The Dutch international says he decided to ditch the African name after his mother divorced his stepfather who played a role in his life at a point.

Wijnaldum clarified the issue when reports in Holland started to suggest he was actually a Ghanaian due to his name Boateng.

The midfielder took up the name when his mother married the Ghanaian man who helped to raise him leading to him taking up the name

But after their marriage broke down Wijnaldum decided to revert to his full biological name.

“I want to put on record that I am now Georginio Wijnaldum and not Georginio Boateng. In fact, I have been known as George Wijnaldum for sometime now.

“Boateng was the name of my former stepfather who is related to retired Dutch footballer of Ghanaian-origin George Boateng.

“My stepfather gave his surname to me but after he divorced my mother I got the Boateng off my name and took my mother’s name Wijnaldum as my surname.

“My mother and my original father are Surinamese so people should get it clear.” he added.

Wijnaldum joined Liverpool from Newcastle United on Friday in a bumper deal.