Kwadwo Baah – The Rochdale youngster destined for bigger things

Following his breakthrough performance with two goals against Charlton, 17-year-old Kwadwo Baah has arrived as one of the hottest prospects in the Football League.

The German-born winger has made 13 appearances for Rochdale in League One this season, forcing his way into a starting place under the ever-progressive Brian Barry-Murphy.

Baah spent four years in Crystal Palace’s youth academy, a club that have produced their fair share of electric wide men in recent times. He made headlines in his time there as a ballboy against West Ham when he attempted to stop them from time wasting in the dying embers of their Premier League fixture.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Kwadwo Baah. pic.twitter.com/4SKXgaQJ2l

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 21, 2016

Aside from the stint of youth fame, he possessed the technical ability and raw pace that would attract EFL clubs aplenty. However this did not stop Palace from releasing him in 2017, leaving Baah picking up the pieces of his chance of a professional career and arriving at Kinetic Academy.

Kinetic is a London-based charity that seeks to provide an education and football programme for young prospects in the South side of the Capital. He impressed to the extent that Isthmian League South East side Whyteleafe FC took him on, making one senior appearance before his move to Rochdale.

The Greater Manchester club have found themselves as an increasing hub for young prospects in recent times, with Luke Matheson the standout player in that bracket, now of Premier League Wolves.

With that in mind, Baah was able to find a home to showcase his skillset at a level that more closely matched his ability. His athleticism and the ease of which he can take-on an opponent has shone through since he made his first team debut.

The Dale have given him ongoing upgrades in responsibility this season, following his arrival in 2019, and in their most recent fixture, he made his first major impact, something which he has been threatening throughout his appearances so far.

Kwadwo Baah (17) v. Charlton:

66 minutes
2 goals
2 shots
100% pass completion
1 key pass
2/3 dribbles won
2 fouls suffered

3 League One starts for @officiallydale this season, 3 goals.

A winger to watch. pic.twitter.com/gi4dgsgTDi

— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) January 12, 2021

His performance against Charlton gave a real platform to his skills in a highly entertaining fixture at the Valley. Both of his goals highlighted his three main attributes: pace, dribbling and strength. This is where Baah differs from your stereotypical young winger, he stands at 6ft tall and imposes himself on full backs to the point where, when accounting for his pace too, many simply cannot handle him.

For that to be happening at any age will bring suitors, especially at League One level, but for a 17-year-old to be performing in this manner is something we simply do not see that often.

Last season the only other regular performer in the EFL at that age was Jude Bellingham and with his move to Borussia Dortmund in the summer highlighting the sort of stature that can be achieved from consistently performing in the EFL at 17, the sky is the limit for Kwadwo Baah.

Rochdale fans were quite content with his earlier performances going under the radar but, given they only seem to be improving week on week, it will not be long before a higher calibre of club comes sniffing.

Baah in himself remains grounded amid the increasing hype around his name. He is a player who, albeit still incredibly raw, has experienced the highs and lows of what football has to offer. The resilience to come back from being released at the age of 14 by Palace, to apply himself at some of the lowest echelons of the English football pyramid, and return better for it pays testament to his application and determination to succeed.

He will look to the likes of Ademola Lookman who, up until his mid teenage years, played for London borough club Waterloo FC before being picked up by Charlton’s academy, as a role model for where his career path could go in future.

Although German-born, Baah is eligible for England and it is evident that his arrival on the scene has been fairly lowkey, especially when you see that he is yet to have any involvement within the national youth setup, although you have to imagine that will not be far down the road following his performances at the Crown Oil Arena.

There is no doubt that there are a lot more levels that Kwadwo Baah can and, most likely, will reach in his professional career, so he is a player that has to be watched out for in the latter stages of the League One campaign, if he is not swept up by a Championship or even Premier League side in January.

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