Francis Amuzu
{{short description|Belgian footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Francis Amuzu
| image = FRAncis AmuZU 1 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Amuzu at Anderlecht in 2021
| fullname = Francis Apelete Amuzu{{cite web | url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j1064015.html | title=Amuzu, Francis Apelete Amuzu - Footballer }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|8|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Accra, Ghana
| height = 1.70 m
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Grêmio
| clubnumber = 9
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = SK Heffen
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Mechelen
| youthyears3 = {{0|0000}}–2015
| youthclubs3 = JMG Academy Lier
| youthyears4 = 2015–2017
| youthclubs4 = Anderlecht
| years1 = 2017–2025
| clubs1 = Anderlecht
| caps1 = 216
| goals1 = 27
| years2 = 2025–
| clubs2 = Grêmio
| caps2 = 10
| goals2 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2017–2018
| nationalteam1 = Belgium U19
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2018–2020
| nationalteam2 = Belgium U21
| nationalcaps2 = 14
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = 330 March 2025
| nationalteam-update = 8 June 2023
}}
Francis Apelete Amuzu (born 23 August 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Grêmio. Born in Ghana, Amuzu represents Belgium internationally.https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2025/02/04/amuzu-atacante-belga-do-anderlecht-viaja-para-acertar-com-o-gremio-dizem-jornalistas.ghtml
Club career
=Anderlecht=
Born in Ghana, Amuzu moved to Belgium at an early age and played for the youth teams of SK Heffen, Mechelen and JMG Academy Lier.{{cite web |url=https://www.voetbalbelgie.be/artikel/tedesco-duwt-amuzu-naar-ghana |title=Tedesco duwt Amuzu naar Ghana |trans-title=Tedesco pushes Amuzu to Ghana |work=Voetbalbelgie.be |date=22 March 2023 |access-date=17 May 2023 |language=nl}} He signed his first professional contract on 23 August 2015 with Anderlecht for three years.{{cite web|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/sensational-ghanaian-teenager-francis-amuzu-pens-three-year-anderlecht-professional-contract|title=Sensational Ghanaian teenager Francis Amuzu pens three-year Anderlecht professional contract|website=social_image}} He made his professional debut for Anderlecht in a 1–0 Belgian First Division A win over Eupen on 22 December 2017, scoring his side's game-winning goal on his debut.{{cite web|url=http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_voetbal/JupilerProLeague1718/MG_JPL_Speeldag_20/1.3117050|title=Anderlecht boekt glansloze overwinning dankzij debuterende Amuzu|publisher=|access-date=24 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223010851/http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_voetbal/JupilerProLeague1718/MG_JPL_Speeldag_20/1.3117050|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=dead}} He pledged his international football to Belgium national team.{{Cite web |title=Anderlecht star Francis Amuzu picks Belgium over Ghana |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/anderlecht-star-francis-amuzu-picks-belgium-over-ghana.html |access-date=24 May 2022 |website=Graphic Online |language=en-gb}}
On 20 September 2018, he made his debut in the European Competitions in a UEFA Europa League match against Spartak Trnava.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2025155--spartak-trnava-vs-anderlecht/|title=Game report by UEFA|publisher=}}
He made his 50th Belgian Pro League appearance for Anderlecht on 12 September 2019, in match against Sporting Charleroi.
He made his 100th league appearance for Anderlecht in a Pro League match against Sint-Truiden.
On 27 August 2023, Amuzu scored the winning goal in a Pro League match against Sporting Charleroi. He then scored from outside the box a week later, in a 1-1 draw against Genk, on 3 September 2023.
On 7 October 2023, he scored in the match against KV Mechelen which honoured club icon Paul Van Himst on his 80th birthday.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20231007_97025032|title=Kippenvel:Anderlecht viert 80e verjaardag van Paul Van Himst op indrukwekkende wijze|trans-title=Goosebumps: Anderlecht celebrates Paul Van Himst's 80th birthday in an impressive way|language=nl|date= October 7, 2023|website=Nieuwsblad.be}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/anderlecht/kijk-mooiste-doelpunt-uit-mijn-carriere-amuzu-zet-met-wereldgoal-orgelpunt-op-feestavond-in-anderlecht~a6f089f6/|title="Mooiste doelpunt uit mijn carrière":Amuzu zet met wereldgoal orgelpunt op feestavond in|trans-title= “The most beautiful goal of my career”: Amuzu caps off the celebration with a stunning goal.|language=nl|date= October 7, 2023|website=hln.be}}
On 28 November 2024, Amuzu scored a stunning late equaliser against FC Porto in a UEFA Europa League league phase match, after he came on as a substitute for Samuel Edozie in the 60th minute. Amuzu was heavily praised by the Portuguese press after playing a good game.{{cite news|title=Portugese pers met complimenten voor Anderlecht en Amuzu |url= https://www.voetbalprimeur.be/nieuws/1241416/portugese-pers-met-complimenten-voor-anderlecht-en-amuzu.html |access-date=30 November 2024 |work=voetbalprimeur |language=dutch}}
On 26 January 2025, Amuzu played his 250th game for Anderlecht coming on as a substitute for César Huerta
in the 81st minute in a 4–1 win against Mechelen.{{cite news|title=Jeremy Doku feliciteert Francis Amuzu met mijlpaal van 250 wedstrijden bij RSC Anderlecht |url= https://www.voetbalprimeur.be/videos/1253798/jeremy-doku-feliciteert-francis-amuzu-met-mijlpaal-van-250-bij-rsc-anderlecht.html#:~:text=Francis%20Amuzu%20heeft%20een%20bijzondere,Doku%20zijn%20voormalige%20ploegmaat%20feliciteert. |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=voetbalprimeur |language=dutch}} Amuzu would finish his Anderlecht career with 28 goals and 24 assists in 250 official matches for the club.
=Grêmio=
On 10 February 2025, Grêmio announced the signing of Amuzu. He joined the club on a permanent deal until December 2026.{{cite web|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/gremio-announce-the-signing-of-belgian-ghanaian-forward-francis-amuzu|title=Grêmio announce the signing of Belgian-Ghanaian forward Francis Amuzu|website=Ghana Soccernet|date=10 February 2025|accessdate=17 March 2025}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 16 March 2025}}
| 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"|State league{{efn|Includes Campeonato Gaúcho}} !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes Belgian Cup, Copa do Brasil}} !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="9"|Anderlecht
|11 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19
|Belgian Pro League |30 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20
|Belgian Pro League |20 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 21 | 3 | |||
| 2020–21
|Belgian Pro League |35 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 39 | 2 | |||
| 2021–22
|Belgian Pro League |37 | 9 | colspan="2"|– | 6 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}} | 1 | 46 | 10 | ||
| 2022–23
|Belgian Pro League |33 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | 15{{efn|name=UECL}} | 0 | 50 | 3 | ||
| 2023–24
|Belgian Pro League |21 | 4 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 21 | 4 | |||
| 2024–25
|Belgian Pro League |18 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=UEL}} | 2 | 28 | 4 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!205 | 25 | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 251 | 28 | ||
| Grêmio
|2025 |0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!205 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 256 | 28 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|francis-amuzu/436549}}
- {{RBFA player|PH_6815}}
- [https://www.rsca.be/nl/teams/u21/francis-amuzu Anderlecht profile]
- [https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/clubs/players/250087449--francis-amuzu/ UEFA youth league profile]
- [http://www.sport.de/fussball/pe444051/francis-amuzu/ Sport.de Profile]
{{Grêmio FBPA squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amuzu, Francis}}
Category:Footballers from Accra
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers
Category:Ghanaian men's footballers
Category:Ghanaian emigrants to Belgium
Category:JMG Academy (Lier) players
Category:R.S.C. Anderlecht players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Black Belgian sportspeople