Hull City secure €17m move for Germany-Ghana striker Ilyas Ansah

Germany-Ghana centre-forward Ilyas Ansah has joined Hull City from Union Berlin in a €17m move, becoming the Premier League club’s latest addition on 1 September 2026.

The 21-year-old has signed a contract with Hull that runs until 30 June 2031. Ansah, who was born in Ludenscheid, stands 1.97m tall and is a right-footed striker capable of leading the attack from the central position.

Ansah arrives in England after one season with Union Berlin, having moved to the Bundesliga club from SC Paderborn in July 2025 for €4m. His time in Berlin ended with one appearance in the 2026-27 DFB-Pokal, when he played the full 90 minutes. He did not feature in the Bundesliga during the current campaign before switching clubs.

The move represents a significant increase on the fee Union paid for Ansah 14 months earlier and makes Hull’s purchase the latest step in a career that began in German youth football. He joined Paderborn’s under-19 side from SF Siegen’s academy in July 2022, before moving into senior football with SC Paderborn a year later.

Ansah’s form at Paderborn earned him the move to Union, where he continued his progression before Hull secured his services. His current market value is listed at €12m, placing the reported transfer fee above that figure.

The striker holds German and Ghanaian nationality, adding an international dimension to Hull’s squad, although his senior international record is not included in the transfer details. His arrival also gives the club a physically imposing option in the centre-forward role, with his height and right-footed profile defining the basic characteristics of his game.

Ansah’s transfer was registered on 1 September 2026, and his contract commits him to Hull City through June 2031.