Does the name Yohann Seedorf Ohemeng ring any bells in your ears? No, perhaps not now but the Liverpool FC Academy kid is currently the hottest infant in English football.
The 8-year- old kid who was born in Manchester to Ghanaian parents with Belgian citizenship on January 21, 2013 is certainly one of the best kept secrets in modern soccer, and that has kept him away from the revolving big lenses that are usually on the tail of infants particularly in La Masia and others.
Ohemeng who operates as an attacker is football’s new prey, and this young genius is already exhibiting his extraordinary talent and skill to reach the highest apogee in his career.
Football is in the family of young Yohann, his father Seedorf Kwaku Ohemeng Duah who is now a scout of Liverpool trained with Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Netherlands and was also chased by Anderlecht for several years but he ultimately lost interest in football and just wanted to play it for fun.
“When Anderlecht scouted me through former Ghana legend Francis Kumi, I had lost interest in football at that time. They tried everything but I wanted to just play for fun so I wasn’t serious at training then finally I quit. Even the owner of King Solomon FC in Ghana took me to the Netherlands to do trials with Feyenoord but I left after 2 training sessions since the interest wasn’t there.” Kwaku Ohemeng told sportsworldghana.com
“Football is in the family and I am not surprised Yohann is showing it. He has already shown that the talent is there.”
The path of Yohann Ohemeng to stardom has been carved already, he was discovered by Dave Horrocks, Manchester United top scout and Pre-Academy coach who is the same man who discovered Marcus Rashford. The Eagle eyes of Horrocks spotted Yohann at Fletcher Moss, the same kids team in Manchester he scouted Rashford from.
According to Yohann’s father Kwaku Ohemeng, his boy had shown interest in football at the age of five and spent several hours on the computer watching videos of the late Diego Maradona.
“When I spotted that he likes football and always plays in the garden, I made him start watching Maradona after which he began to watch Messi because Maradona is my all-time favorite.”
Yohann, who is left footed, is already showing that he can live up to expectations and reach the level of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi in world football and he is the best prospect in his age group in England now.
He had his Pre-Academy training with Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton. He netted over 300 goals in all these clubs before turning eight earlier this year.
A tug of war ensued between Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton for his signature but at the end, the “Kopites” won the race and signed him into their Academy. City legend Kevin De Bruyne is his biggest fan as the Belgian sometimes went purposely to the kids training grounds to watch him during his time with the Citizens.
Yohann is considered as the brightest talent in his age Group and has been tipped by his coaches to make his English Premier League debut for Liverpool by the age of 15 due to his rate of development.
He has been likened to Reds legend Mohamed Salah already due to his style of play, his pace and eye for goals.
Certainly, other clubs continue to test Liverpool in order to snatch Yohann away. In a Kids tournament in Anfield in which Liverpool beat Ajax to win with Yohann emerging as the best player of the tournament and goal king, the Academy chief of the Dutch side was swayed away by his talent and was to ready offer 1 Million Euros to get him though Liverpool declined the offer.
With his stock rising, Seedorf Kwaku Ohemeng is a proud Dad and he is happy to see his boy gradually climbing the ladder of success.
“It’s such a great feeling to see him play and have fun as well and I’m proud to have been there with him to see him train and also making sure he is on the right path.”
“He loves the game and he is not getting carried away, he is always focused and wants to be the best in the world one day.”
“He wants to be the best player in the world. At the same time, we’ll provide him with the best education and training and will take great steps in that direction.”
The young Yohann has a big ambition, he wants to excel, win the world cup, win trophies and be a legend in the game after he had a taste of Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League medals from Alexander Arnold Trent.
“I want to be Premier League Champion, win the World Cup, be the best player in the whole world and have a big name.” Yohann told sportsworldghana.com.
Yohann’s back-born Remar Ohemeng is also playing Pre Academy football with the Liverpool Under 6 and has also been labeled as a magnificent talent destined for greatness.
Undoubtedly, the next generation of top English stars has been signed by the various EPL clubs into their Academies and Yohann Ohemeng lead the pack with the others such as Kai Rooney of Manchester United, Tyler Kickks at Chelsea and Mikel Arteta’s son Junior Arteta at Arsenal.
In Ohemeng, England has a real talent and don’t be surprised to see him winning the ballon d’or in a decade to come.