Yaw Yeboah Bio
Yaw Yeboah, born 28 March 1997, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a winger. He is recognized for his speed, technical dribbling, and versatility across the front line. As of early 2026, he is listed as a player for Chinese Super League club Qingdao Hainiu.
Standing 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) tall and naturally left-footed, Yeboah has been deployed as a winger, an attacking midfielder, and at wing-back throughout his career. He has represented Ghana at youth and senior international level, including appearances at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Early Life and Background
Yaw Yeboah was born on 28 March 1997 in Accra, Ghana. He grew up in the Greater Accra region and was raised in a Christian household, with his father working as a pastor. The cultural and religious environment of his upbringing shaped his early years in the Ghanaian capital.
His entry into organized football came through the Right to Dream Academy, a well-known youth development program in Ghana. Yeboah joined the academy in 2008, when he was 11 years old, and spent the next six years training within its structure. The academy’s pathway to professional football would later take him from Ghana to Europe and beyond.
Path to Soccer
Yeboah’s development at Right to Dream culminated in 2014, when he graduated from the academy and signed a professional contract with Manchester City. The move represented a major step up, as Manchester City’s academy and loan network is widely regarded as one of the strongest in Europe.
His first taste of senior professional football came through a series of developmental loans in European leagues. Between 2015 and 2018, Yeboah was loaned to Lille in France, Twente in the Netherlands, and Real Oviedo in Spain, gaining experience in three different football cultures. He then signed permanently with Spanish Segunda División side CD Numancia, where he scored on his debut and continued his progression.
Yaw Yeboah Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Yaw Yeboah began his senior career in 2014 with Manchester City, where he was integrated into the club’s development system. Although he did not make a first-team appearance for City, the loan pathway provided him with consistent minutes in competitive European leagues.
During his loan spells at Lille, Twente, and Real Oviedo, Yeboah adapted to varied tactical environments and built the physical and technical base that would later define his game. After completing those loans, he signed permanently with CD Numancia in Spain’s Segunda División and scored on his debut, marking his transition from a developmental prospect into a productive senior attacker.
Wisła Kraków Breakthrough (2020–2022)
On 11 August 2020, Yaw Yeboah completed a transfer to Polish Ekstraklasa club Wisła Kraków, signing a three-year deal. The move gave him a more prominent role than his previous loans, and he quickly made an impact in front of goal.
On 18 October 2020, he scored his first two goals for Wisła Kraków in a 6–0 victory against Stal Mielec. On 10 September 2021, Yeboah was voted Ekstraklasa Player of the Month for August 2021, recognition that reflected his growing influence on the team. Across his time at the club, he made 50 appearances in all competitions and scored 10 goals.
Columbus Crew Era (2022–2024)
On 6 January 2022, Yaw Yeboah transferred to Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew on a three-year deal. In his first MLS season, he played on the right side of a 4–2–3–1 formation and registered his first assist in a 4–0 opening-day win over Vancouver Whitecaps. His first year in the United States ended with no goals and one assist in 20 appearances across all competitions.
His second season marked a clear breakthrough. Deployed as a left wing-back in a 3–4–3 formation, he scored his first Crew goal off the bench in a 4–0 win over Real Salt Lake on 1 April 2023, and went on to appear in 42 matches across all competitions with five goals and five assists. He scored the game-winning goal in the MLS Cup Final, cementing his role in the club’s championship run.
In 2024, Yeboah was a regular starter in the first half of the season before being dropped after a loss at Inter Miami on 19 June. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win at the Philadelphia Union on 28 August. On 27 November 2024, the club announced that his contract would not be renewed.
Los Angeles FC and Beyond (2025–Present)
On 24 January 2025, Yaw Yeboah signed with Los Angeles FC on a two-year deal. LAFC acquired his MLS rights from San Diego FC in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money, after San Diego had selected him in the 2024 MLS Re-Entry Draft. On 25 October 2025, he was placed on administrative leave by Major League Soccer pending a review of potential rule violations.
On 17 January 2026, Yeboah and LAFC mutually agreed to terminate his contract. On 9 March 2026, following a league investigation, he and former Columbus Crew teammate Derrick Jones were issued lifetime bans from MLS. The investigation found that the pair had engaged in extensive gambling during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including betting on yellow cards in matches. On 28 February 2026, Yeboah signed with Chinese Super League club Qingdao Hainiu.
Driving Style and Strengths
A left-footed player, Yaw Yeboah is known for his pace, skillful dribbling, and tactical flexibility. Throughout his career he has been deployed as a winger, an attacking midfielder, and at wing-back, allowing coaches to use him in multiple attacking roles depending on the formation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Yeboah’s most notable career moment came in 2023, when he scored the game-winning goal in the MLS Cup Final for Columbus Crew. He was also named Ekstraklasa Player of the Month for August 2021 during his time at Wisła Kraków, and was awarded Most Valuable Player of the 2015 African U-20 Championship with Ghana U-20.
Yaw Yeboah Career Wins
Yaw Yeboah’s career highlights include a Major League Soccer championship with Columbus Crew in 2023, during which he scored the winning goal in the MLS Cup Final. He also won individual recognition in Poland and at youth international level, and played across top divisions in England, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and the United States.
Columbus Crew Highlights
Across his time with Columbus Crew from 2022 to 2024, Yaw Yeboah made 62 appearances in all competitions and recorded six goals and six assists. His most memorable contribution came in the 2023 MLS Cup Final, where he scored the decisive goal to deliver the club a league title.
Other Wins and Performances
At youth international level, Yeboah was named Most Valuable Player of the 2015 African U-20 Championship after scoring two goals, and then represented Ghana at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he made four appearances and scored two goals, both from penalties. At club level, he made 50 appearances and scored 10 goals for Wisła Kraków between 2020 and 2022.
Yaw Yeboah Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Yaw Yeboah was raised in Accra, Ghana, in a Christian household. His father is a pastor, and the family supported his progression through the Right to Dream Academy and into professional football in Europe.
Personal Life
Yeboah is a Christian and has spoken about the influence of his family and faith on his career. Public details about his personal relationships are limited, and he has not publicly confirmed a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
Yaw Yeboah’s 2025 season began with a January move to Los Angeles FC, where he was brought in to add pace and width to the LAFC attack. Early in the year, he was part of an LAFC squad competing in both MLS regular-season play and the broader Concacaf calendar.
His season was interrupted on 25 October 2025, when Major League Soccer placed him on administrative leave pending a review of potential rule violations. While on leave, he was prohibited from participating in team activities and competitions, effectively ending his on-field contributions for the remainder of the year.
The situation was resolved in early 2026, when Yeboah and LAFC mutually agreed to terminate his contract on 17 January 2026, and a league investigation later resulted in a lifetime ban from MLS. The 2025 season is therefore remembered less for on-field production and more for the off-field developments that reshaped the rest of his career.
