Swansea City have agreed a deal to sign highly rated Ghana international Joseph Opoku from Belgian club Zulte Waregem, beating competition from several European sides for the attacking midfielder.
The Championship club saw off interest from Hull City, Genoa, Trabzonspor, Krasnodar and Real Sociedad to secure the 20-year-old, who is regarded as one of the brightest emerging talents in the Belgian Pro League.
Although the transfer fee and contract length have not been disclosed, Opoku is expected to complete his move after undergoing a medical with Swansea’s squad at their pre-season training camp in Austria in the coming days.
Rising Ghana talent
Opoku’s switch comes on the back of a breakout 2025-26 campaign in Belgium, where he established himself as a key creative force for Zulte Waregem.
Operating mainly as a left winger but right-footed, he scored 10 goals and provided 16 assists across the season, form that earned him the Jupiler Pro League Player of the Month award for April 2026.
Described as a powerful attacker who uses his physical strength as a major asset, Opoku has already broken into the Ghana national team set-up.
He made his senior debut for the Black Stars earlier this year, featuring in a friendly against Mexico in May, and was later named in Carlos Queiroz’s preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He ultimately missed out on the final 26-man roster for the tournament but is seen as a player with significant long-term international potential.
Matos sees ‘Sadio Mane’ profile
Swansea’s Portuguese head coach Vitor Matos, appointed in November 2025 on a four-year deal, is understood to have been a driving force behind the pursuit of Opoku.
The former Liverpool elite development coach has spoken publicly about his desire to build a side packed with “technical, high-intensity, direct wide players” capable of operating within his possession-based system.
Opoku is viewed internally as an ideal fit for that blueprint. Matos is said to be a particular admirer of the Ghanaian’s profile, even likening him to Sadio Mane in terms of his directness, work rate and ability to attack from the left while predominantly using his right foot.
Strategic move for Swansea
The addition of Opoku underlines Swansea’s strategy of targeting emerging talent from across Europe as they look to climb the Championship table and push towards a return to the Premier League.
Bringing in a player with recent top-flight form in Belgium and senior international experience is also seen as a statement of intent by the Welsh club, especially given the calibre of teams they have beaten to his signature.
Once his medical in Austria is completed and the move is finalised, Opoku is expected to link up immediately with Matos’s squad for the remainder of their pre-season preparations, with the aim of being integrated into Swansea’s frontline options ahead of the new campaign.
