Jerry Afriyie leaves Al Qadsiah and joins Genk

Jerry Afriyie is set for a new league adventure. The Ghanaian striker has officially left Al Qadsiah to join KRC Genk in Belgium, where he aims to continue his development and take another leap forward in his young career.

KRC Genk bolsters its attacking line with the arrival of Jerry Afriyie. At just 19, the Ghana international has officially departed Al-Qadsiah and signed a five-year contract with the Belgian club, tying him to Genk until 2031.

The young striker’s transfer comes after a stint in Saudi Arabia and an impressive loan spell in Belgium. According to reports surrounding the deal, Genk shelled out around 6 million euros to secure his permanent move. Afriyie put pen to paper at the Cegeka Arena, becoming one of the club’s newest attacking signings for the 2026–2027 season.

With Afriyie’s arrival, KRC Genk adds a dynamic and versatile attacker to its ranks. The Ghanaian forward is comfortable on both wings, but can also play centrally or just behind the main striker. His speed and ability to exploit space in behind defenders will add a new dimension to Genk’s offense.

The best young player in Ghana

Trained at Thoughts FC in Ghana, Afriyie joined Al-Qadsiah in January 2025. To further his development, he was loaned last season to La Louvière in Belgium. That experience allowed him to discover Belgian football and make his mark with five goals and one assist.

His energy, direct playing style, and eye for goal lived up to expectations. In 2025, Afriyie notably won the Odartey Lamptey Future Star award, honoring Ghana’s most promising young player. He also impressed with Ghana’s youth national teams, finishing as top scorer for the U20 side.

His rapid rise earned him a call-up to the senior national team. In spring 2026, he was called up for the first time to the Black Stars for an international friendly—a new milestone in a career that’s accelerating at just 19 years old.

Afriyie also took part in pre-season with Al-Qadsiah, where he played alongside compatriot Christopher Bonsu Baah, a former Genk player. Now, he returns to familiar territory, but with a new status and fresh ambitions.

Genk is betting not only on his current abilities, but also on his potential. Dimitri de Condé, the club’s sporting director, particularly highlights the young striker’s mentality.

“Jerry is a player with incredible energy. Whatever he does, he gives it 100 percent. That fits perfectly with the intensity we demand at KRC Genk.”

The Belgian club also believes Afriyie still has plenty of room for growth. His pace, explosiveness, runs in behind, and ability to beat opponents one-on-one are seen as major assets in modern football.

“He possesses outstanding natural talent and key qualities for the modern game: speed, explosiveness, movement in behind, and the ability to cause problems in one-on-one situations,” De Condé adds. “He’s still very young and we’ll provide the ideal environment for him to keep progressing.”

With this five-year contract, Genk has made it clear they want to build for the long term with the young Ghanaian. For Afriyie, the challenge now is to confirm the potential he showed at La Louvière in the Jupiler Pro League, and continue his rise until he becomes a key player for the Black Stars.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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