Paul Osew

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Paul Osew

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Paul Asiedu Osew{{Cite web |title=Notification of shirt numbers: AFC Wimbledon |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |access-date=17 October 2019 |publisher=English Football League |page=2}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|11|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Wandsworth, England{{Soccerway}}

| height =

| position = Left back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2008–2010

| youthclubs1 = Chelsea Kicks

| youthyears2 = 2010–2011

| youthclubs2 = Evolution Sports & Health Academy

| youthyears3 = 2011–2014

| youthclubs3 = Brentford

| youthyears4 = 2015–2019

| youthclubs4 = AFC Wimbledon

| years1 = 2017

| clubs1 = Raynes Park Vale

| caps1 = 2

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2019–2023

| clubs2 = AFC Wimbledon

| caps2 = 59

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2023

| clubs3 = Northampton Town

| caps3 = 4

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2023–2024

| clubs4 = Woking

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2024

| clubs5 = Welling United

| caps5 = 6

| goals5 = 0

| club-update = 14:43, 19 February 2025 (UTC)

}}

Paul Asiedu Osew (born 25 November 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back.

Osew is a product of the Brentford and AFC Wimbledon academies and played in the English Football League for the latter club between 2019 and 2023. Following a short spell with Northampton Town and a period as a free agent, he dropped into non-League football in December 2023.

Career

= Early years =

Osew began his youth career with spells as Chelsea Kicks and in the Evolution Sports & Health Academy. Following a rejection by Chelsea Academy for being "too small",{{Cite web |last=Cornell |first=Rob |title=Paul bangs the drum for more points |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2022/february/from-dons-kit-to-drum-kit-paul-osew/ |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}} he joined the Brentford academy at the age of 11.{{Cite web |last=Slavin |first=Chris |date=27 November 2019 |title=Paul moves on quickly after leaving Brentford behind |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/november/paul-moves-on-quickly-after-leaving-brentford-behind/ |access-date=9 January 2020 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |language=en-gb}} At age 15, Osew signed a scholarship deal with AFC Wimbledon, after previously being a part of the club's Foundation's College Education programme.{{Cite web |last=Slavin |first=Chris |date=29 August 2019 |title=From Raynes Park Vale to Wimbledon's first-team |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/august/from-raynes-park-vale-to-wimbledons-first-team/ |access-date=31 August 2019 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |language=en-gb}} During his time in the club's youth system, he was converted from a forward to a left back. During the first month of the 2017–18 season, Osew played the first senior matches of his career for Combined Counties League First Division club Raynes Park Vale,{{Cite web |title=Paul Osew – Raynes Park Vale FC First Team |url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/raynesparkvalefootballclub/teams/68917/player/paul-osew-1918526/48573 |access-date=9 January 2020 |publisher=Raynes Park Vale F.C.}} on an ad-hoc basis.

= AFC Wimbledon =

After progressing into AFC Wimbledon's U23 team during the 2018–19 season, Osew signed his first professional contract with the League One club in April 2019.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2019 |title=Trio sign pro deals at AFC Wimbledon |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/april/trio-sign-pro-deals-at-afc-wimbledon/ |access-date=9 January 2020 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |language=en-gb}} He was a regular inclusion in the first team squad during the truncated 2019–20 season and by the time his season was ended by a stress fracture to his tibia in March 2020,{{Cite web |date=8 January 2020 |title=Dons full-back signs new contract at Wimbledon |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/january/dons-full-back-signs-new-contract-at-wimbledon/ |access-date=9 January 2020 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Paul ruled out for six weeks with stress fracture |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/march/paul-ruled-out-for-six-weeks-after-stress-fracture/ |access-date=5 September 2020 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}} he had made 23 appearances and scored one goal.{{Soccerbase season|id=122965|season=2019|access-date=9 January 2020}} On 8 January 2020, Osew signed a contract extension and made 14 appearances during the 2020–21 season, scoring one goal. He improved his tally to 32 appearances during the 2021–22 season, which culminated in relegation to League Two.{{Fchd|id=AFC-WIMB|name=AFC Wimbledon}} Osew proved his versatility as a utility player in defence and midfield during the season and scored one goal, with the only goal of an EFL Cup first round win over Charlton Athletic on 10 August 2022.

Osew was offered a new two-year contract in May 2022,{{Cite web |title=Retained List Announced |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2022/may/retained-list-announced/ |access-date=3 June 2022 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}} but delayed signing it until 21 August 2022,{{Cite web |title=Defender signs new deal |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2022/august/defender-signs-new-deal/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}} due to a need to recover from injury.{{Cite web |last=Brack |first=Edmund |date=23 July 2022 |title='It has gone on longer than you would hope' – Dons boss on contract talks with defender |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/it-has-gone-on-longer-than-you-would-hope-dons-boss-on-contract-talks-with-defender/ |access-date=25 July 2022 |website=South London News |language=en-GB}} He returned to match play six days later and following six appearances, he was sidelined for two months with an ankle injury.{{Cite web |last=Brack |first=Edmund |date=13 October 2022 |title=AFC Wimbledon boss has injury update on sidelined quartet |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/afc-wimbledon-boss-has-injury-update-on-sidelined-quartet/ |access-date=16 October 2022 |website=South London News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Trophy exit for Dons after Argyle fightback |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2022/december/trophy-exit-for-dons-after-argyle-fightback/ |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}} Osew failed to appear again before agreeing a mutual termination of his contract on 1 February 2023.{{Cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Chris |title=Paul leaves after seven years |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2023/february/paul-leaves-after-seven-years/ |access-date=1 February 2023 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}} He made 76 appearances and scored three goals during {{frac|3|1|2}} years as a professional with the club. Following his departure from Plough Lane, Osew trained with the Chelsea Development Squad.{{Cite web |last=Brack |first=Edmund |date=18 October 2024 |title='I actually contemplated: 'Maybe it's time to stop playing?' – Former AFC Wimbledon defender Paul Osew opens up on wait for club after landing Welling deal |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/i-actually-contemplated-maybe-its-time-to-stop-playing-former-afc-wimbledon-defender-paul-osew-opens-up-on-wait-for-club-after-landing-welling-deal/ |access-date=28 December 2024 |website=South London News |language=en-GB}}

= Northampton Town =

Following a period training with the Chelsea Development Squad, Osew transferred to League Two club Northampton Town on 10 March 2023 and signed a contract running until the end of the 2022–23 season.{{Cite web |date=11 March 2023 |title=Paul Osew Signs for Northampton Town |url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/paul_osew2/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |publisher=Northampton Town |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Paul Osew – Defender – First Team – Northampton Town |url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/paul-osew/ |access-date=26 April 2023 |website=www.ntfc.co.uk}} He made four appearances during the remainder of the club's promotion-winning season and was released when his contract expired.{{Fchd|id=NORTHAMT|name=Northampton Town F.C.}}{{Cite web |title=Northampton Town Retained List |url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/retained_list/ |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=www.ntfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}

= Woking =

On 8 December 2023, Osew joined National League club Woking on a contract running until the end of the 2023–24 season.{{Cite news |last=Bewsey |first=William |date=8 December 2023 |title=Paul Osew Signs |url=https://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/8407/paul-osew-signs/ |access-date=8 December 2023 |publisher=Woking F.C.}}{{Cite news |date=26 April 2024 |title=2023/24 Retained and Released List |url=https://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/8562/2023-24-retained-and-released-list/ |access-date=26 April 2024 |publisher=Woking FC}} He made six appearances during the remainder of the season, scoring one goal, which came with the winner on his league debut, in a 2–1 victory over Dorking Wanderers on 16 December. Osew departed the Kingfield Stadium when his contract expired.

= Welling United=

Following trials with clubs in Germany and Belgium, Osew signed signed an undisclosed-length contract with National League South club Welling United on 27 September 2024.{{Cite news |date=28 September 2024 |title=Wings sign left-back Paul Osew |url=https://wellingunited.com/2024/09/wings-sign-left-back-paul-osew/ |publisher=Welling United}} After making 9 appearances, he was made available for transfer on 9 December.{{Cite web |title=Squad update |url=https://wellingunited.com/2024/12/squad-update/ |access-date=28 December 2024 |website=wellingunited.com |language=en-GB}}

Personal life

Born in England, Osew is of Ghanaian descent.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Sunderland in pursuit of Ghanaian defender Paul Osew |url=https://footballghana.com/exclusive-sunderland-in-pursuit-of-ghanaian-defender-paul-osew |access-date=30 January 2021 |website=Footballghana}} He attended Sudbourne Primary School, Brixton and Southfields Academy, Southfields.{{Cite web |title=Paul shows the way to Plough Lane's class of 2022 |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2022/march/paul-shows-the-way-to-plough-lanes-class-of-2022/ |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}} Osew is a drummer and as of February 2022, was playing in church on Sundays. In March 2022, he became an ambassador for the AFC Wimbledon Education Hub at Plough Lane.

Career statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" \|Club ! rowspan="2" \|Season ! colspan="3" \|League ! colspan="2" \|FA Cup ! colspan="2" \|League Cup ! colspan="2" \|Other ! colspan="2" \|Total
Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
Raynes Park Vale \|2017–18 \|Combined Counties League First Division \|2 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|― \| colspan="2" \|― \| colspan="2" \|― \|2 \|0
rowspan="5" \|AFC Wimbledon \|2019–20 \|League One \|18 \|1 \|2 \|0 \|1 \|0 \|2Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy \|0 \|23 \|1
2020–21{{Soccerbase season\|id=122965\|season=2020\|access-date=5 September 2020}} \|League One \|10 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|4 \|1 \|14 \|1
2021–22{{Soccerbase season\|id=122965\|season=2021\|access-date=12 August 2021}} \|League One \|27 \|0 \|2 \|0 \|2 \|1 \|1 \|0 \|32 \|1
2022–23{{Soccerbase season\|id=122965\|season=2022\|access-date=30 August 2022}} \|League Two \|4 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|2 \|0 \|6 \|0
colspan="2" \|Total !59 !1 !4 !0 !3 !1 !9 !1 !75 !3
Northampton Town \|2022–23 \|League Two \|4 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|― \| colspan="2" \|― \| colspan="2" \|― \|4 \|0
Woking \|2023–24 \|National League \|5 \|1 \| colspan="2" \|― \| colspan="2" \|― \|1{{efn\|name=FAT\|Appearance in FA Trophy}} \|0 \|6 \|1
Welling United \|2024–25{{Cite web \|title=Paul Osew {{!}} Player Profile \|url=https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/paul-osew/42158 \|access-date=16 December 2024 \|website=Aylesbury United Archive}} \|National League South \|6 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|― \| colspan="2" \|― \|31 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Kent Senior Cup, 1 appearance in London Senior Cup \|0 \|9 \|0
colspan="3" \|Career total !76 !2 !4 !0 !3 !1 !13 !1 !96 !4

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

! rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |FA Cup

! colspan="2" |League Cup

! colspan="2" |Other

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

Raynes Park Vale

|2017–18

|Combined Counties League First Division

| colspan="2" |―

rowspan="5" |AFC Wimbledon

|2019–20

|League One

|18

|2Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

|23

2020–21{{Soccerbase season|id=122965|season=2020|access-date=5 September 2020}}

|League One

|10

|14

2021–22{{Soccerbase season|id=122965|season=2021|access-date=12 August 2021}}

|League One

|27

|32

2022–23{{Soccerbase season|id=122965|season=2022|access-date=30 August 2022}}

|League Two

colspan="2" |Total

!59

!75

Northampton Town

|2022–23

|League Two

| colspan="2" |―

Woking

|2023–24

|National League

| colspan="2" |―

|1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance in FA Trophy}}

Welling United

|2024–25{{Cite web |title=Paul Osew {{!}} Player Profile |url=https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/paul-osew/42158 |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=Aylesbury United Archive}}

|National League South

| colspan="2" |―

|31 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Kent Senior Cup, 1 appearance in London Senior Cup

colspan="3" |Career total

!76

!13

!96