Asante Kotoko complete Umar Ali signing after Ghana defender’s UAE spell

Asante Kotoko have signed Ghanaian left-back Umar Ali on a free transfer, bringing the 22-year-old defender back to Ghana after his time with FC Baniyas in the United Arab Emirates.

Ali joined the Premier League club on 25 August 2026 and has agreed a contract running until 30 June 2028. The move gives Asante Kotoko a left-footed option in defence and marks the next stage of a career that began in the UAE.

The defender spent the 2024-25 season with FC Baniyas after moving up from the club’s under-17 side. He left Baniyas on 1 July 2025 before joining Asante Kotoko as a free agent.

Ali made four recorded appearances in UAE competitions during his time with Baniyas. He played twice in the UAE Pro League and twice in the UAE League Cup, with 117 minutes played across those matches. He also featured in the UAE President’s Cup.

Born on 28 June 2004, Ali stands 1.77m tall and operates primarily at left-back. His preferred left foot suits the role, while his experience in UAE football adds an overseas element to his playing background despite his return to the Ghanaian league.

His arrival strengthens Asante Kotoko’s defensive options ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. The club, one of Ghana’s leading sides, will now have Ali available under a deal that keeps him at the club for the next two seasons.

Ali’s move follows a period away from competitive football after his departure from Baniyas, and his signing provides him with a new platform in Ghana. His path to the club has taken him from Baniyas’ youth system to senior football in the UAE and now to Asante Kotoko’s first team.

The transfer was completed on 25 August, with Ali joining Asante Kotoko after more than a year without a club. His contract is in place until June 2028.