Former Ghana U-17 starlet Emmanuel Toku has joined top-tier Belgian side OH Leuven in the closing winter transfer window.
Since February 2021, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been playing in Bulgaria for PFC Botev Plovdiv after initially joining on loan from Danish counterparts Fremad Amager.
Toku is now stepping closer to mainstream europe by switching to Belgium in a three-and-a-half-year contract.
“Ghanaian attacking midfielder Emmanuel Toku (22) is coming to OH Leuven. He comes over from Bulgarian Botev Plovdiv, 10th in the Bulgarian Efbet Liga.
“Toku signed a contract with OH Leuven until 2026,” a club statement read in part.
Head coach Marc Brys expressed satisfaction with the signing saying: “Toku is a young player with a lot of international experience. He brings us more attacking impulses in midfield and has a good shot.”
The journey so far
Toku started his career at Ghanaian third-tier side Cheetah FC who loaned him out to Portuguese club Boavista after excelling in the 2017 Under-17 Fifa World Cup held in India.
He moved on to join Fremad Amager in the Danish second tier – where he played 39 games, scored 12 goals and provided 6 assists.
In 2021, Toku switched to Botev Plovdiv. He featured 70 times for the Bulgarian top division club, scoring 8 goals and providing 6 assists.
Emmanuel Toku will be eligible to play for his new club OH Leuven as soon as his visa and work permits are in order.
He is the latest Ghanaian to sign for OH Leuven, after Kamal Sowah who now plays for Club Brugge.
