FRISCO, Texas – The summer transfer window is underway for FC Dallas as the club announced the signing of free agent forward Eugene Ansah, formerly of Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC in the Israeli Premier League.
A native of Accra, Ghana, Ansah began his career with Belgian side Sporting Lokeren before making the move to Israel in 2017 with Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla. Three years into tenure in Israel, Ansah joined Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2021 where he’d go on to score 12 goals and add 10 assists in 80 games across all competition (including one season in the UEFA Conference League). He helped the club lift the Israeli State Cup as well as the Israel Super Cup during his three seasons there.
“One of the things we noticed during the year we’ve been following Ansah is that he’s played as a #9 and as a winger,” said FCD head coach Nico Estévez. “They’re two positions he knows well. As a #9, he can stretch the field very well and has good hold up play and he’s good at getting in the box for crosses.
“As a winger, he has that speed to stretch the opponent’s backline and attack the box, he’s great at that. And he likes to shoot from distance which will help us.”
Ansah’s arrival could breathe new life into an Dallas attack that has been hampered by injury issues over the first half of 2023. The Israel Premier League only ended last month so Ansah should be close to match fit. The hope is that once the 28-year-old will be able to contribute soon after arriving in Dallas.
After his adaptation, Ansah's versatility should allow him to fill in on either wing, as well as up top. Paul Arriola's extended injury absence has forced FCD to rely heavily on Jáder Obrian and Alan Velasco on the flanks, with the pair needing to play 90 minutes nearly every game. Ansah's arrival should lessen the burden on them and gives Estévez more flexibility with his lineup choices.
“Hopefully, we can have him with us soon pending his Visa documents,” Estévez explained. “He just finished the league season with his team and we’ve sent him an exercise program to keep him fit and once he comes hopefully he’ll be in rhythm quickly.”
