From Antoine Semenyo to Callum Hudson-Odoi, from Jerome Opoku to Tariq Lamptey, we’ve seen quite a few players who, after being raised in England by Ghanaian parents, have gone on to achieve plenty of footballing success. The latest member of the English-Ghanaian diaspora to excel in the top level of football is none other than Darko Boateng Gyabi.

Born in Catford, England, Gyabi started his development with London’s oldest football club – Cray Wanderers – where he played between 2012 and 2015, before making the move to Millwall. Renowned for their impressive youth development featuring coaches like Alex Neil, Stephen Constantine, and Gary Rowett, Millwall proved instrumental in Gyabi’s rise, with the young midfielder eventually departing Southeast London for the first time in his life and joining Manchester City’s academy in 2018.

Playing alongside future stars like Cole Palmer, Jeremie Frimpong and Liam Delap, Gyabi helped City dominate English youth football and established himself as a crucial presence in central midfield for the Cityzens. But with a first-team pathway unbecoming, he decided to depart the Etihad in 2022 and join fellow Premier League side Leeds United in a swap deal for Kalvin Phillips.

Gyabi would make just five appearances during his 18 months at Elland Road before deciding to head out on loan to Championship side Plymouth Argyle. Having made his senior debut at Leeds, Gyabi finally started to gain momentum and start regularly for Plymouth, only to suffer a groin strain shortly after his arrival. He decided to return to Plymouth for the following season, making 48 appearances in 2024/25 and proving integral in their incredible FA Cup journey, which saw them eliminate soon-to-be-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool.

Starved of playing time in his return to Leeds, Gyabi was allowed to depart on a free transfer and join Championship side Hull City on September 1, penning a three-year contract. It hasn’t taken him long to become a regular contributor in midfield under new manager Sergej Jakirović. Whilst only three of Gyabi’s 14 appearances have come as a starter, he nevertheless ranks fifth in Hull’s squad for possession won in the final third per 90 (0.40) and Expected Goals per 90 (0.26) and Expected Goal Contributions per 90 (0.3).

Whilst Gyabi has represented England at the U-15, U-16, U-18, U-19, and U-20 levels, playing in all four of England’s matches at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and scoring vs. eventual champions Uruguay, he hasn’t played for England since November 2024. It’s these performances that have seen him gain the attention of various leading pundits like Sid Lowe and Kevin Egan. He isn’t abandoning hope of playing for England, but he also isn’t closing the door on representing Ghana.

“The main focus for me right now is Hull because I know once everything is going smoothly, it’s not going to be an issue,” stated Gyabi to RG. It’s just about staying consistent, and once the chance comes to go back with the national team, taking it. I definitely know that Ghana can be an option as well in the future, but it’s all about timing. Everything happens in the right time, and I feel like, by the grace of God, when the time is right, whatever's meant to be will happen.

I love going back to Ghana, I’ve been there the last two summers because I still have family members there; my entire family is from Ghana. It's not something that I try to keep in the back of my mind, my Ghanaian roots are just part of who I am.”