For many young footballers, the journey to professional soccer is filled with uncertainty. For 19-year-old Ghanaian midfielder Kwaku Agyabeng, that journey has already produced a remarkable milestone, an MLS debut just months after being drafted by Sporting Kansas City.
Agyabeng’s rapid rise has been nothing short of impressive. From the football fields of Kumasi to the competitive environment of American college soccer, the teenager has consistently demonstrated the talent and composure that have now propelled him into Major League Soccer.
His breakthrough moment arrived during the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, where Sporting Kansas City selected him with the fourth overall pick following an exceptional freshman season at Clemson University.
During that campaign, Agyabeng made 16 appearances and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in college soccer.
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Before making his mark at Clemson, Agyabeng had already built a strong reputation in youth football in the United States. He played for St. Benedict’s High School in New Jersey and later joined Cedar Stars Bergen, where he helped guide the team to two national titles and an appearance in the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup U-19 final.
Yet the path to pursuing football was not always straightforward.
Despite being the person who first introduced him to the sport, Agyabeng’s father initially had reservations about him focusing on football. Like many African parents, he prioritized academics and envisioned a more traditional professional path for his son.
“My father didn’t want me to play soccer,” said Kwaku Agyabeng, the 19-year-old Ghanaian living his dream after making his MLS debut a few months after being selected by Sporting Kansas City in the 2026 SuperDraft.
“I started playing soccer when I was five years old. My dad introduced me to the sport but it got to a time when I was about 10, 11, 12, he didn’t want me to play soccer because he wanted me to focus more on school,” said Agyabeng. “But it got to a point he started seeing the potential in me so he started believing I had a dream he can support,” he added.
That belief has since been rewarded.
Agyabeng needed just 38 minutes into the 2026 MLS season to officially step onto the professional stage. The young midfielder came off the bench in Sporting Kansas City’s season opener against San Jose at PayPal Park, replacing Justin Reynolds in a match that saw several promising youngsters handed their first opportunities.
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Even in a difficult outing that ended in a 3-0 defeat, Agyabeng showed flashes of the quality that made him such a highly rated prospect.
“Kwaku (Agyabeng) came in from college and he had a good preseason as well. So I brought him in and I think Kwaku has done well, we know what we get from him. I think he is a bright spot for the future of this club, but obviously that it’s all young (players). We’ve got to give them time,” said SKC coach Raphael Wicky after the 3-0 defeat to San Jose.
With his strong college reputation and promising early performances, Agyabeng is already being mentioned among the young players who could challenge for the MLS Rookie of the Year award this season.
For the Kumasi-born midfielder, however, the debut is only the beginning of a journey he hopes will continue to grow, one that started with a dream, a reluctant father, and a ball at his feet.
