On Thursday, July 6, Belgian side KRC Genk announced the signing of Ghanaian youngster Christopher Bonsu Baah.

The 18-year-old joined the club on a five-year contract from Norwegian side Sarpsborg FF where he only featured in 12 games.

In Norway, Bonsu Baah was an instant hit despite only playing 12 games. He scored one turned a provider on another occasion for Sarpsborg who currently occupied the fifth position on the league table.

Bonsu Baah is the latest Shooting Stars Football Club player to be on the wave following in the path of many Ghanaians plying their trade in Europe.

But how did it all begin for the youngster in Ghana?

Playing for Standford Heroes

Baah Bonsu stayed at Kronum-Afrancho Kumasi. He joined Standford Heroes at the age of 7.

According to Coach Sule, the one who was in charge at then, Bonsu was reluctant about playing football as all he cared about was dancing. However, the gaffer was able to convince him and his mum to commit to football.

In a conversation with Joy Sports' Lawrence Baidoo, he adds that he had to 'chase Bonsu around with a cane to get him to train.'

He went ahead to like the game and was named the Best Player of the Kwabre District U-15 League at the tender age - the beginning of his growth in the game.

Joining Shooting Stars FC

In 2019, the winger was one of three players Sule handed to Shooting Stars for them to continue their development.

Though he initially wasn't part, his inclusion became necessary after the coach's relationship with the people at the Accra-based side.

Bonsu convinced Shooting Stars after taking part in a football trial and was then left to carry on at the club.

He played at Shooting Stars for four years and was among the brightest spot in the team even while they played in the lower division.

The move to Europe

The teenager made the switch to Europe directly from Shooting Stars, joining Norwegian side Sarpsborg FF.

Having joined Sarpsborg in March 2023, the winger made his debut for the club a month later in a league game against Bodo/Glimt, enjoying 61 minutes of action.

Bonsu Baah went on to feature in 11 other games with the 18-year-old scoring his first goal in his eighth game for the club in a 3-1 win over Aalesunds while getting an assist against Odds BK in the Norwegian Cup.

His performances also saw him earn a nomination in the 2023 Golden Boy award as one of two Ghanaians in the top 100, the other being FC Nordsjaelland's Ernest Nuamah.

Just a month after he was revealed as a nominee for the top prize award, the Ghanaian sealed a high-profile move.

He signed for KRC Genk on a long-term deal, joining countryman Joseph Paintsil at the Belgian club.

"Special thanks to my Ghanaian team, my home ground, the place where it all began; Shooting Stars FC," he wrote in a post on social media.

"You saw the vision from day one and your support to start the journey and get me where I am today can never be questioned. To Isaac, my father figure I am forever indebted to you. To Boss Kwaku and all the coaching staff at SSFC, you have been very instrumental in my growth as a player and in shaping me to this point.

"Thank you. My appreciation goes out to my manager Joe Gyamfi; I am forever grateful."

It didn't take him long to settle at his new home as he scored in the club's 4-0 pre-season friendly win over Oud-Heverlee Leuven two days later.

https://twitter.com/kweku_lawrence/status/1677819384423673856?s=20

He has Paintsil close to him in case he would need anything to help in his adaptation and the Black Stars man has offered every support to him on and off the pitch in his early days at the club.

https://twitter.com/JoySportsGH/status/1678889981786423296?s=20

With the season not far away, Bonsu Baah will obviously focus on getting to know his new teammates and get things started once the 2023/24 campaign gets underway.