Middlesbrough are set to complete the signing of highly rated Ghanaian teenager Hinneh Lord Listowell once his visa application is finalised, with the club moving decisively to secure the services of the young forward after months of close monitoring.
The 18-year-old is expected to link up initially with Boro’s Under-21 side, having already arrived at the club following his emergence at Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko.
Listowell joined Kotoko last summer and quickly broke into the senior setup, gaining valuable experience in both domestic league matches and the CAF Confederation Cup this season.
Despite his brief spell at Kotoko, Listowell’s development has been closely followed by Middlesbrough for some time. He is a product of the Samba Stars Academy in Ghana, which is part-owned by former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio, and is regarded as one of the academy’s standout prospects.
The forward spent two separate trial periods at Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe Park training ground last season. Although the club opted not to sign him at that stage, their interest did not wane, with scouts continuing to track his progress closely after his return to Ghana.
Both Middlesbrough’s head of recruitment, Chris Jones, and head of academy recruitment, Martin Carter, are understood to have travelled to watch Listowell in person before the club decided to move ahead with a permanent deal.
Listowell has also previously attracted interest from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he undertook a trial, underlining the level of attention his performances have generated. His parent academy has described him as a player with “exceptional ball control, vision on the field and work rate”.
Those qualities were evident during his time training at Rockliffe, where he featured with various academy groups. Middlesbrough’s scouting reports highlight him as a quick, direct wide forward with a fearless approach in possession, attributes that impressed decision-makers during their evaluations.
Once his visa is approved, Listowell will begin full training with the club and is expected, at least initially, to feature under Mark Tinkler in the Under-21 squad, as Middlesbrough look to further develop the teenager within their academy structure.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
