Yunus Musah: Playing For America and AC Milan

Yunus Musah is an American international footballer who represented England as a youth international during the early stages of his career. He was eligible to play for Ghana, Italy, England and the U.S. men’s national teams. Musah’s talent was evident as he was scouted from an early age.

The American has impressed with Valencia in La Liga and is finding his fit in Italy with the Rossoneri. His departure from Arsenal was said to have disappointed then Arsenal manager Unai Emery who saw him as part of his plan. Join us as we explore the journey and adventures of Yunus Dimoara Musah.

Player Profile – Yunus Musah

Yunus Dimoara Musah is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for AC Milan in Serie A and the United States national team. He is recognized as one of the top young talents globally, Musah is praised for his technical skill, movement, and physical strength.

Musah developed his soccer skills at Arsenal’s Hale End academy before beginning his senior career with Valencia in La Liga at the age of 17 in 2020. During his time at Valencia, he made 94 league appearances and earned a nomination for the 2022 Golden Boy Award due to his impressive performances.

Player Profile Overview

The Early Life of Yunus Musah

Yunus Musah was born in New York City to Ghanaian parents Ibrahim Musah and Amina Musah. They moved from Ghana to the United States, where Yunus was born. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Italy, where he began playing football at a young age.

During their time in Italy, Yunus Musah’s mother, Amina, opened a restaurant in Castelfranco Veneto that specialized in traditional Ghanaian cuisine.

It quickly became a popular spot for Ghanaians living in Italy, attracting hundreds of visitors each week. Yunus often helped his mother at the restaurant, where he also learned the Dagbani language.

Musah’s early passion for the game was evident, and his talent quickly caught the attention of scouts. When he was nine, his family moved to London, and he joined Arsenal’s youth academy.

Before moving to England, Yunus Musah played as a young attacker and was known for his goal-scoring ability and winning mindset. He helped his team win many youth tournaments.

In a notable final against Bassano Vicenza, Musah played as a goalkeeper. His team won 5-3, with Musah saving the ball, dribbling past everyone, and scoring four goals.

At Arsenal, he honed his skills and developed into a versatile midfielder. His diverse cultural background and international experiences have greatly influenced his playing style, contributing to his adaptability and maturity on the field.

Yunus Musah’s Style of Play

Yunus Musah is a progressive dribbler who, despite not being a natural winger, often moves into central areas to form a midfield trio when playing on the wide right. He has great positional awareness, which allows him to support his teammates and defend different positions on the field.

Off the ball, he frequently drops into central midfield, where he excels at pressing the opposition. Operating in crowded midfield spaces, Musah effectively shields deeper midfielders, applies pressure to opponents, recovers the ball, and advances it forward.

Youth Career

Yunus Musah began his football career at A.S.D. Giorgione Calcio 2000 in Castelfranco Veneto before moving to Arsenal’s academy in 2012. Over seven years, he developed through Arsenal’s esteemed Hale End Academy, known for producing talents like Ashley Cole and Tony Adams.

Despite his success at the youth level, with 5 goals and 3 assists in the 2018/19 season, Musah saw limited prospects for first-team play and left Arsenal in 2019. This led to his departure from London, moving to Spain to join Valencia for €200,000.

Yunus Musah’s talents shone and he quickly impressed with the Valencia youth squad.  This prompted assistant manager Oscar Alvarez to advocate for his promotion to the senior team under new manager Javi Gracia.

Senior Career

After leaving Arsenal, Musah joined Valencia at the age of 16 and was assigned to their reserves in Segunda Division B in 2019. He made his debut with the B-team on September 15, 2019, starting in a 0–0 home draw against La Nucia. Musah scored his first senior goal on March 1, 2020, in a 2–1 loss at Gimnàstic de Tarragona.

With the arrival of new manager Javi Gracia, Musah joined Valencia’s first team for the 2020 pre-season. At 17 years and eight months old, he made his first team and La Liga—debut on September 13, 2020. Yunus Musah started in the 4–2 home win against Levante UD. This debut made him the first American to play for Valencia.

On November 1, 2020, at 17 years and 338 days old, Musah scored his first goal for Valencia in the 2–2 draw against Getafe CF. The American became the youngest non-Spanish player to score for Valencia, breaking the previous record held by Lee Kang-in.

In December 2020, Musah extended his contract with Valencia until 2026. He celebrated his new contract by scoring the equalizer for Valencia against Terrassa in the 4–2 win after extra time in the Copa del Rey.

Yunus Musah continued to impress for Valencia during the 2021–22 season. Musah scored in victories against Utrillas and Arenteiro in the early rounds of the Copa Del Rey.

Valencia reached the final on April 23, 2022, and Musah came on as a sub to replace Dimitri Foulquier during extra time. The match ended in a 1-1 draw with Real Betis and headed for penalties.

Unfortunately, Musah was the only player to miss in the penalty shootout, resulting in Valencia’s loss. Musah spent one more season with Valencia before moving to Italy to join AC Milan.

Moving to Italy

Yunus Musah signed for Serie A club AC Milan for €18 million, with an additional €2 million in potential bonuses on August 4, 2023. He signed a five-year contract valid until June 2028 and opted to wear the number 80 jersey famously worn by Ronaldinho.

Musah made his UEFA Champions League debut with AC Milan on September 19 at age 20. He came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute against Newcastle United. Yunus Musah recorded his first assist for Milan, setting up international teammate Christian Pulisic for the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Genoa.

However, Yunus Musah’s time at AC Milan has seen him play a minor role for the Rossoneri. AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli has tipped the American international to do more in the coming season.

International career

Yunus Musah, as a youth, had eligibility to play for several national teams including the United States, Ghana, Italy, and England. He made his international debut with England’s under-15s in 2016 and continued representing England up to the under-18 level.

Musah’s contributions included a penalty that secured a draw for England’s under-18s against Brazil’s under-17s in September 2019 and a crucial goal against Austria’s under-18s in October 2019, helping England win 3–2. In total, Musah played over 30 times for England at the youth level.

Switching Allegiance to Represent the USA

Yunus Musah’s journey to international soccer began when he accepted a call-up to the United States senior squad in November 2020. Making his senior international debut on November 11 in a 0-0 draw against Wales, Musah displayed his potential on the international stage.

He followed this up with a start in the subsequent 6-2 victory over Panama on November 16, further solidifying his place in the US squad.

However, Musah’s talents did not go unnoticed by England’s senior and under-21 managers. Despite England’s overtures, Musah remained undecided about his international allegiance as he approached his 18th birthday.

It wasn’t until March 15, 2021, that he officially committed to representing the United States internationally, ending speculation about his national team future.

Musah’s decision proved fruitful as he represented the US at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His performances in the tournament, notably against England and Iran in the group stage, earned him recognition as one of the competition’s standout young players.

This recognition culminated in Musah being awarded the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year award in 2022, solidifying his status as a rising star in American soccer.

The Personal Life of Yunus Musah

Yunus Musah leads a life shaped by his diverse cultural background and international experiences. Born in New York City and raised in Italy and England, he is fluent in multiple languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, Hausa Dagbani and Italian.

Despite his rising fame, Musah remains grounded, often attributing his success to his family’s support and values instilled by his parents.

Off the pitch, he is a practising Muslim and is known for his humility and dedication. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, and his interests include music and fashion. Musah’s multicultural upbringing and personal interests continue to influence his identity both as an individual and as an athlete.

Musah’s elder brother, Abdul Musah has been managing Yunus’ off-field matters as his agent and guide as the pair have been inseparable since childhood. While Abdul was never one who was involved with football, he has taken it upon himself to become the face of the player when it came to the financial side of things regarding Yunus’ career.

Conclusion

Yunus Musah’s journey from the youth academies of England to Valencia, AC Milan and the US Men’s National Team is a testament to his relentless dedication and versatile talent. His ability to adapt, coupled with his dynamic playing style, has earned him accolades and admiration on both sides of the Atlantic.

As he continues to write his story in football history, Footballers’ Biographies will continue to pen the achievements and adventures of the American.