Badu then signed on 16 April 2009, a six-month loan contract with Recreativo de Huelva, on loan from Berlin FC.[9][10]Reuters quoted a source from a Berlin FC official, that the loan cost Recreativo about €30,000 (US$40,000),[11] while Associated Press reported his new club holds an option for a contract between 30 June 2012 and the loan would be effective until the opening of 2009 summer transfer window.[12] His contract with the Spanish club Recreativo de Huelva was dissolved in September 2009 and he moved back to Asante Kotoko.[13]
Udinese
In November 2009, BBC and Sky Sports announced the Italian Serie A side Udinese Calcio would sign Badu in January 2010[14][15] and on 28 January 2010, the Udine club announced on its official site the permanent signing of the player from Berlin FC.[16] Badu received his first team call-up against A.C. Milan on 12 February, but did not play. After a successive "appearances" as unused sub, he replaced Paolo Sammarco on 28 March 2010 against Fiorentina, which Udinese lost 1–4.
In August 2017, he joined Turkish Süper Lig club Bursaspor on loan for the 2017–18 season.[17] He was injured whilst on loan, and returned to first-team action with Udinese in March 2019, after 11 months out.[18]
Verona
On 13 July 2019, Badu signed to Hellas Verona on loan with an obligation to buy.[19] He was hospitalised in August with blood clots on his lungs,[20] but was cleared to play in December 2019.[21] He featured in 10 matches on loan at the club.
After the 2019–20 season Hellas Verona activated their obligation to sign him on a two-year deal from Udinese after playing for the Udine-based club for 10 years and playing in 193 matches in all competitions, scoring 10 times and making 11 assists.[22][23] He was not included in Verona's 2020–21 Serie A squad. On 2 January 2021, he announced that he terminated his Verona contract and retired from playing.[24]
Great Olympics
In July 2022, 13 years after playing in the Ghana Premier League, Badu made a return to the league and signed for Nungua-based club Accra Great Olympics as a free agent.[25][26] He signed a one-year deal with the club ahead of the 2022–23 season.[25] He made his debut on 17 August 2022 against Bechem United, in a 5–4 penalties loss after a goalless draw in regulation time in the 2022 GHALCA G6.[27]
He played in all matches as Olympics went on to win the GHALCA G6 at the end of the tournament after defeating Bechem United by 2–0 in the final.[28][29] On 9 September 2022, a day to the commencement of the league, he was officially unveiled by the club.[30] After a remarkable five-month tenure, during which he participated in 11 league games and earned the prestigious Man of the Match award twice,[31] he bid farewell to Olympics.[32]
Badu has represented Ghana at under-20, under-23 and senior level. On 22 May 2008, he received his first call-up to the Black Stars.[33] Badu's first senior international appearance came on 8 June 2008 against Lesotho[34] and his first goal against Congo in June 2011.
Badu scored the winning sudden death penalty on 16 October 2009 in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final against Brazil. The penalty made Ghana the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.[39]
Senior career
In 2010, Badu was selected for his first Africa Cup of Nations as the Black Stars finished runners-up to Egypt, and went on to appear in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the tournament, with the team twice recording fourth-placed finishes.[39]
During the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in a group match between Ghana and Guinea, Badu flipped up a teammate's pass from just outside the penalty area and launched a mid-air volley to score a goal that was later nominated for the 2012 FIFA Puskás Award (FIFA's global Goal of the Year award).
Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu hails from Seikwa, Bono Region of the Republic of Ghana. He speaks his native language, Koulango, as well as Twi and English. He had his primary and junior high school education at the Seikwa Roman Catholic School and continued at the Nkoranman Senior High School, also at Seikwa. His brother Nana Agyemang-Badu plays for Asante Kotoko.[41] Badu is the nephew of Asiedu Nketia.[42] He is married to Regiatta Affua Arthur.[43][44][45]
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