Dundee United have completed the signing of Ghanaian midfielder Isaac Pappoe on a season-long loan from Hungarian champions Ferencváros, with manager Jim Goodwin hailing the 21-year-old as “a really exciting talent” with immense potential.
The move marks another calculated dip into the loan market by United, who have enjoyed recent success with temporary signings and Goodwin believes Pappoe is ready to follow suit.
“His energy and work ethic is infectious,” the United boss told the club’s official website. “He has terrific ball-carrying and progressing abilities. Out of possession, he reads the game intelligently, a quality which allows him to intercept passes in dangerous areas and transition defence into attack quickly.”
Pappoe joins the Terrors after a challenging season in Hungary, where he made just five appearances for Ferencváros. Prior to that, he enjoyed a strong campaign with Swiss side Aarau, where his performances including an 87% passing accuracy, and over five interceptions per 90 minutes earned him high praise and a four-year deal with the Hungarian giants.
Originally from Ghana’s capital, Accra, Pappoe began his football journey with Golden Kicks FC, earning a call-up to the Ghana U21 national team before making the leap to Europe with a move to Israeli side Ashdod at just 18.
Reflecting on his move to Scotland, Pappoe said he was eager to prove himself in the Scottish Premiership.
“It was a tough season for me last season, but I got a lot of experience and learned a lot,” he said. “It is a good platform for me to improve as a young player, and I’m excited to experience a different culture again.”
The highly-rated midfielder joins a Dundee United squad with ambitions of making a strong mark this season. Goodwin said the club had to fend off “strong interest from elsewhere” to secure his signature.
As the Scottish side continues to rebuild and strengthen its ranks, fans will be watching closely to see how Pappoe adapts to life at Tannadice Park and whether he can live up to his billing as one of Ghana’s rising stars.
