Behind Afriyie Barnieh’s protracted move to FC Zurich

Daniel Afriyie Barnieh has joined FC Zurich. He was offered a free transfer from Hearts of Oak. The transfer was protracted. He is a Ghanaian international. His country is playing in the Championship of African Nations.

Afriyie Barnieh has been a key player for Hearts of Oak for three years. He helped them win the Ghana Premier League and MTN FA Cup. Barni has also been instrumental for Ghana's youth national teams. He has scored more than half of the goals that qualified Ghana to the upcoming African Nations Championships. FC Zurich are interested in signing him. The club is one of Ghana’s biggest.

Afriyie Barnieh has been called up to the Black Stars. He played for the U-20, U.23 and Black Galaxies teams. Barni got his first call-up to a senior team in August 2021. In September, he was called to play for pre-World Cup friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua. Otto Addo named him in his 33-man squad for 2023 AFCON qualifiers and Kirin Cup assignments. Afriie was named in Ghana’s final 2022 FIFA World Cup squad by Otto.

Afriyie Barnieh is leaving Hearts of Oak for FC Zurich. The forward's contract expires in December. He is willing to run down his contract to explore other options. He was offered a new two-year deal but refused. His agent suggested he could leave for free. Club board member Dr Nyaho Nyahta Tamakloe warned about Barny's potential departure. They were trying to convince him to sign a contract extension. However, he refused to extend his current contract. FC Zürich was the only club interested in signing him. Cincinnati, Leganes and Viking FK in Norway were interested.

Afriyie Barnieh was a key member of the Black Galaxies squad that qualified for the 2023 African Nations Championship scheduled to take place in Algeria. He converted one of five penalties that gave Ghana a 5-4 victory at the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja. Barny needed an extension of his contract with Hearts of Oak to enable him to compete at this tournament. Dreams FC offered to sign him for a period so he could play for Black Gales. Hearts refused to extend his deal. Eventually, Hearts accepted to give Afriie a three-month extension.

Afriyie Barnieh was given some time off in the Black Galaxies camp to study documents to travel to Switzerland for the official unveiling. Barny will earn 12,000 euros before tax monthly.