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Sports News of Friday, 24 August 2018

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Feature: Leicester City star Daniel Amartey's rise to fame

The 22-year-old is an integral part of the Leicester team The 22-year-old is an integral part of the Leicester team

Daniel Amartey was born on the 21st of December, 1994. Now he's one of the best Ghanaian footballers in the English Premier League.

The defender and midfielder plays for Leicester City, as well as for the Ghana National Football Team Black Stars. Amartey played five times in his 2015-16 debut season for Leicester, the year in which they won the League title.

Making history The club have had an up-and-down time since that history-making season when they won the title for the first time under then-manager Claudio Ranieri. The club hasn't had a bad run and have caused the media and fans to take them seriously, especially those who enjoy a flutter on the match. Fans might just feel like having a bet on them this season as well.

After all, there is no shortage of options online these days, with online bettings sites such as ComeOn Casino. It even features a guide for those new to sports betting, so Leicester and Amartey fans could well feel like having a punt on the team. Yes, Ranieri was fired the season after Leicester won the title when the team found itself in the relegation zone. However, they finished the season strong in 12th place after Ranieri was replaced with Craig Shakespeare. Another change of manager last season saw the team earn a 9th-place finish, so they're creeping back up the table. In no small part thanks to Amartey's impressive play.

Early days Amartey started playing football at just sixteen with Ghanaian tier club International Allies. It was during this period when he was discovered by Magnus Pehrsson while on a scouting trip in Africa. Pehrsson was preparing for his new role as manager of Djurgårdens IF. Shortly after Pehrsson had taken over the club, he secured the transfer rights to sign Amartey when he turned 18. To help him prepare for a future move, the Swedish club flew the young player to the country for short periods in 2011 and 2012 when he played for the U21 team.

Winning praise Amartey made his first Svenska Cupen appearance in March 2013 in a match against Umea FC. He made his first league appearance in the same year for Allsvenskan in their opening match against Helsingborg IF. Amartey won praise for the way he started the season, catching the attention of such clubs as 1. FC Kaiserslautern and FC Schalke 04. Newspaper Expressen ranked the still 18- year-old the 10th-best player in the Swedish league after just one season. Aftonbladet also ranked him in the top 20, at No. 18. In November, the player confirmed that he was considering a move to Liverpool F.C. in the English Premier League.

Career football In July the following year, Amartey signed with F.C. Copenhagen for €2.5 million and made his debut for the Superliga on the 20th of the same month against Silkeborg IF. In 2016, Amartey moved to Leicester City in the English Premier League after having signed a four-and-half-year the contract for a fee of around £6mn.

He was regarded as being among the best midfielders in the Danish league. He saved his best, however, for his career football in the English Premier League, where Leicester ensured to retain his services for the upcoming season. In the international game, Amartey made his first appearance for the Ghana under-20 teams in a match against Nigeria in May 2012. He was also chosen to take part in the 2013 U-20 World Club, as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup.