Darko Boateng Gyabi (born 18 February 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle, on loan from fellow EFL Championship club Leeds United.

Darko Gyabi
Personal information
Full name Darko Boateng Gyabi[1]
Date of birth (2004-02-18) 18 February 2004 (age 20)[2]
Place of birth Catford, London, England
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[2]
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Plymouth Argyle
(on loan from Leeds United)
Number 18
Youth career
2012–2015 Cray Wanderers
2015–2018 Millwall
2018–2022 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Leeds United 5 (0)
2024-25Plymouth Argyle (loan) 12 (0)
International career
2019 England U15 2 (0)
2019–2020 England U16 8 (1)
2021–2022 England U18 2 (0)
2022–2023 England U19 4 (1)
2023– England U20 10 (2)
2024– England U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:21, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Having played for Cray Wanderers between the ages of eight and 11,[3] Gyabi joined Millwall in 2015. In 2018, Gyabi left to join the academy of Manchester City.[4] He played for City's under-21 side in three EFL Trophy games during the 2020–21 season.[5]

On 4 July 2022, Gyabi joined Leeds United on a four-year contract for a £5 million transfer fee in part of a swap deal involving Kalvin Phillips.[6][7] On 9 November 2022 he made his debut for Leeds in the EFL Cup against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[8][9] The next month saw him make his Premier League debut on 28 December 2022 in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City as a second-half substitute.[10]

On 11 January 2024, Gyabi joined fellow Championship club Plymouth Argyle on loan until the end of the 2023-24 season.[11] On 26 March 2024 Gyabi's loan was cut short due to a season ending injury.[12]

On 2 July 2024, Gyabi returned to Plymouth Argyle for a second, season-long, loan spell.[13]

International career

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Gyabi is of Ghanaian descent.[14]

In September 2021, Gyabi made his debut representing the England under-18 team.[15][16]

On 21 September 2022, Gyabi made his England U19 debut during a 2-0 2023 U19 Euro qualifying win over Montenegro.[17]

On 10 May 2023, Gyabi was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[18][19] He scored in a group stage victory over Uruguay and also played in their round of sixteen elimination against Italy.[20][21]

On 15 November 2024, Gyabi made his U21 debut as a substitute during a goalless draw with Spain in La Línea de la Concepción. [22]

Style of play

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Gyabi is right footed and plays mainly as a box-to-box midfielder; he has been described as being a player who catches the eye with his skill in tight areas with ability to dribble through midfield.[23]

Career statistics

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As of match played 17 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester City U21 2020–21[5] 3[a] 0 3 0
2021–22[24] 1[a] 0 1 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Leeds United U21 2022–23[25] 3[a] 0 3 0
Leeds United 2022–23[25] Premier League 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 0
2023–24[26] Championship 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
2024–25[27] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 5 0
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2023–24[26] Championship 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2024–25[27] Championship 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
Career total 14 0 1 0 3 0 7 0 25 0
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: England (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 6. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Darko Gyabi: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Darko Gyabi". Proformance. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  4. ^ Marshall, Tyrone (22 November 2018). "Man City sign 14-year-old midfielder Darko Gyabi". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  6. ^ Dawes, Olly (4 July 2022). "Gyabi joins Leeds". HITC. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Leeds confirm Gyabi signing". BBC Sport. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  8. ^ Sobot, Lee (9 November 2022). "Young Leeds United trio and 'keeper given debuts in ten Whites changes for Wolves cup clash". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  9. ^ Smith, Emma (9 November 2022). "Wolves 1-0 Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  10. ^ Dawkes, Phil (28 December 2022). "Leeds United 1-3 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Gyabi joins on loan until end of season". www.pafc.co.uk. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Darko Gyabi: On-loan Plymouth Argyle midfielder likely to miss rest of season". BBC Sport. 27 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Darko Gyabi joins Plymouth Argyle on season-long loan from Leeds United". BBC Sport. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Leeds Utd set to sign Ghanaian teenager Gyabi Darko for a fee of £5 million from Man City". FootballGhana. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Exclusive: Ghanaian teen midfielder Darko Gyabi gets England U-18 call-up". SportsWorld Ghana. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  16. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (3 September 2021). "Wales 1-1 England MU18s". England Football. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  17. ^ Smith, Frank (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU19s 2-0 Montenegro". England Football. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  18. ^ Veevers, Nick (10 May 2023). "England MU20s squad named for World Cup in Argentina". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Fifa Under-20 World Cup: England name squad for tournament". BBC Sport. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Under-20 World Cup: England beat Uruguay to move top of Group E and into last 16". BBC Sport. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Italy oust England at U20 World Cup thanks to late penalty". ESPN. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  22. ^ Harle, Tom (15 November 2024). "Report: Spain 0-0 England MU21s". England Football. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  23. ^ Leigh, Neil. "Darko Gyabi". www.mancity.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by Darko Gyabi in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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