Union Berlin defender Derrick Arthur Köhn has been handed his maiden call-up to the Black Stars for Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali.
The 26-year-old left-back, born in Germany to Ghanaian parents, has been on the radar of the national team for years but had previously delayed committing. According to Black Stars coach Otto Addo, when Köhn was first approached about representing Ghana, he admitted he was “not yet ready.”
Now, after an impressive season on loan at Werder Bremen—where he featured 27 times in the Bundesliga, scoring twice—Köhn has finally decided to wear the Ghana colours. His summer transfer to Union Berlin has further boosted his profile, and his inclusion in the squad has sparked huge excitement among Ghanaian fans.
Köhn is seen by many as the most influential foreign-born addition to the Black Stars since Kevin-Prince Boateng in 2010. His pace, overlapping runs, and defensive intelligence have convinced analysts that he could permanently solve Ghana’s long-standing left-back problem, an area that has lacked consistency since the days of Hans Adu Sarpei.
With Ghana topping Group I in the African qualifiers, Köhn’s arrival adds depth and quality ahead of the crucial September fixtures. The Black Stars face Chad on September 4 in N’Djamena before hosting Mali in Accra on September 8.
If he makes his debut, Derrick Köhn could finally be the missing piece in Otto Addo’s puzzle—and perhaps the beginning of a new era for Ghana’s defense.
