James Abankwah D Watford (loan from Udinese) b.2004

[pineapple stu]

Based on what out of interest?

Half a season with Pat's and an hour with Udinese is hardly stellar stuff?

[Eirambler]

Based on being a mainstay of the Udinese first team squad last season at 18. Certainly would have hoped he'd have held down a first team place in an average League 1 team.

[pineapple stu]

But they had a dozen players on the bench mostentimes. I think maybe too much was read into that.

His career really is half a season with Pat's and a dozen games with Udinese's under 19s.

I always thought it was strange he was on the bench every week tbh, but it's probably telling he only came off it once.

[JR89]

But they had a dozen players on the bench mostentimes. I think maybe too much was read into that.

His career really is half a season with Pat's and a dozen games with Udinese's under 19s.

I always thought it was strange he was on the bench every week tbh, but it's probably telling he only came off it once.

Yeah with him gone on loan this season they've replaced him with another 19yr old CB from their academy and bought another 19yr old CB from Bayern with both players more or less mainstays this season.

[tetsujin1979]

TBF he did start against Juventus on the last day of last season

[Razors left peg]

Based on what out of interest?

Half a season with Pat's and an hour with Udinese is hardly stellar stuff?

Based on him being an excellent young player. Since he came on in the cup final for Pats he's looked like he could been very good.

[pineapple stu]

There's plenty of LoI players who've not immediately made it in L1 though. Especially ones with just half a season's experience.

I think he's still a prospect rather than someone who should be walking into a L1 team


TBF he did start against Juventus on the last day of last season
Isn't the last day of the season when Italian clubs typically throw games? :p

[tetsujin1979]

Named as a sub today, alongside Ebosele
1787540690626322910

[JR89]

A 92th minute equaliser keeps them 2pts behind Empoli and Frosinone who drew with each other at the weekend. They place Lecce this weekend before they play both Empoli and Frosinone in the final two games.

[John83]

Plenty to play for yet.

https://i.imgur.com/91ZDFpO.png

[pineapple stu]

Looks set to return to St Pat's on loan (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/return-to-inchicore-from-udinese-for-james-abankwah-would-provide-much-needed-game-time/a1851747371.html).

That's not a great look tbf.

[TonyD]

Looks set to return to St Pat's on loan (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/return-to-inchicore-from-udinese-for-james-abankwah-would-provide-much-needed-game-time/a1851747371.html).

That's not a great look tbf.

Looks good to me :cool:

[Eirambler]

That telling unfortunately. If they thought he was any good they wouldn't be letting him go there. Didn't make any inroads at Charlton either so the recent signs haven't been great in terms of his progression.

[2 Year Contract]

I know squad numbers are just squad numbers, but he’s been given the number 4 shirt at the club ahead of the new season. Hopefully a minor sign that he’s set for some more first team games this season

[tetsujin1979]

Starts in the cup against Salernitana
1838968312908136588

[zero]

played 85 mins in a straighforward looking 3-1 win. there are hightlights on youtube but james does not feature.

[tetsujin1979]

First Serie A appearance of the season, last minute introduction today against Lecce
1842579049170010412

[2 Year Contract]

Played the second half of Udinese's 2-0 loss in the cup against Inter at the San Siro on Thursday, with both goals coming in the first half. He’d a couple of late cameo appearances against Monza and Napoli this month also

[2 Year Contract]

Came on at half time again tonight, away to Fiorentina. They were trailing 1-0 at half time and went on to win 2-1

[tetsujin1979]

Dropped for today's game against Verona, but seems it was planned
https://www.tuttoudinese.it/notizie/udinese-abankwah-out-contro-il-verona-per-scelta-tecnica-168159
(Translated from Italian)

coach Runjaic has decided to exclude James Abankwah from the match against Verona and the reason seems to be linked to a technical issue

[OMTY]

Loaned to Udinese sister club Watford until the end of the season:

https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2025/january/16/official-james-abankwah-signs-for-watford/

[Eirambler]

The almost inevitable Udinese/Watford switcharoo. The last time he was in England he couldn't get a game for Charlton in League 1 so it will be interesting to see how much he has kicked on since then.

[pineapple stu]

Especially given Festy is struggling to get a game at Watford at the moment (just 7 starts since moving in the summer, and none since late November)

[Eirambler]

And also given that he apparently joins eight existing centre backs at Watford. Though possible that he may play right back in a four.

[Exgrad]

Worth mentioning he's signed a new 4 and a half year deal with Udinese, which is significant. Cleverly comments on him:


He is a really good profile for being able to defend in a four. He brings us speed, physicality, and I can see he values the art of defending. It is one where we were completely aligned on - it is not a project. We identified him as a player that is the perfect profile for what we are missing.
“He is one that the Udinese manager actually was quite desperate to keep, but we feel like he can add more value to us, and I am pleased he has come and joined us. He is a real promising addition to the squad,” the Watford manager said.

[Olé Olé]

Loaned to Udinese sister club Watford until the end of the season:

https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2025/january/16/official-james-abankwah-signs-for-watford/

Great to see the three Irish lads posing for a picture - Vata, Abankwah and Ebosele.

[Rayzor]

Great to see the three Irish lads posing for a picture - Vata, Abankwah and Ebosele.

I would say Vata is definitely Scottish, born in Scotland to a Scottish mother and Albanian father who played for celtic. I know his mother is of irish decent but add him to Houghton, McCarthy, McGeady and a few others that we poached from them.

[Eirambler]

If they play for Ireland they're Irish (strictly speaking Scottish isn't a nationality anyway - a choice of their own making!)

[John83]

Ah, here. Once they wear the shirt, they're Irish. Getting into shades of Irishness is a formula for pointless arguments.

[Eirambler]

Just on that note I saw a tweet yesterday about Abankwah from a Ghanaian soccer site describing him as Ghanaian (I must admit I thought his background was Nigerian). Might be something to keep an eye out for, I don't tend to worry too much about Irish lads declaring for Nigeria as they have such a huge pick already in that country, but the path to a Ghanaian call up these days might be shorter, they're not the force they once were.

[rebelmusic]

Ah, here. Once they wear the shirt, they're Irish. Getting into shades of Irishness is a formula for pointless arguments.

Was going to add another argument but couldn't have said it better.

[Rayzor]

Ah, here. Once they wear the shirt, they're Irish. Getting into shades of Irishness is a formula for pointless arguments.

Are they? I wouldn't consider Aiden McGeady irish, he's a Scottish lad with Irish ancestry who represented us. Sure Frankie Boyles parents are from Donegal, even if we gave him a cap he'd still be a Scottish comedian. At least they have Irish roots, unlike the rugger that's full of kiwis, ozzies and south Africans

[Eirambler]

I wouldn't consider Aiden McGeady irish

He'd disagree with you.

[johnnyc]

The state of this ****ing website. Click on the James Abankwah thread and see the same old bull**** off topic arguments.

[Eirambler]

Straight in from the start today. Great opportunity for him.

[Rayzor]

Booked in the first minute.

[Eirambler]

Played right back. Came back well from the early yellow to have a good game. Subbed off after 75 minutes with Watford 2-0 up. Good debut for him.

[irishfan86]

Great to see. We are in need of fullback options, even if it probably won’t ultimately be his position in the long term.

[Rayzor]

1880660987868749906
Judging by Watford fans on twitter he was excellent yesterday.

[Predator]

With Abankwah showing an ability to play right back, we now have a preponderance of options in that position. As well as Coleman, Doherty, O'Shea and Omobamidele, there's Ebosele, Dunne, O'Brien and Abankwah.

[Olé Olé]

https://x.com/louorns/status/1880660987868749906?t=mHUC2J3Rh4vw9ZZIQEi17Q&s=19
Judging by Watford fans on twitter he was excellent yesterday.

Eirambler didn't fancy him to make any progress there on the previous page. Good to see he's at least got one good game under his belt.

Good to see him progress.

[Eirambler]

That was back when he was linked to St Pat's, no? I think I was fairly neutral about the Watford loan.

[rebelmusic]

Started again but had a terrible game, was at fault for Prestons first and was subbed off at half time.

Considering he was thrown into the deep end upon joining I hope Cleverley manages the fallout properly

[pineapple stu]

Got caught in possession but then went to ground looking for a free-kick while play went on - daft thing to do as a full-back. Getting caught out can happen, but you don't lie there waiting for the whistle when it happens

[Olé Olé]

Third clean sheet in a row for Watford with Abankwah playing all games. Has a strong who scored rating. I can't find a Watford forum with much activity surrounding him but a quick Twitter search seems to show he has a lot of plaudits. This looks like it's been a success so far.

[yurt]

The move has surpassed reasonable expectations so far. I wasn't sure how much game time he'd actually get at Watford.

If he can finish out the season starting weekly and maybe make a push for the playoff positions he'll surely have solidified himself as a championship level player at a minimum for the foreseeable

[Olé Olé]

I think the Charlton move can firmly be considered a blip. He joined them at 19. It's a reasonable thing to occur. He played games in Serie A the first half of this season. Joined Watford around his 21st birthday and is playing.

[Trequartista20]

Sent off for two bookable offences on 76' today with the scores at 0-0; Oxford Utd then going on and win 1-0.