Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu Profile

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (born 2 December 1990 in Berekum), also known simply as Badu, is a Ghanaian international footballer, who plays for Serie A club Udinese in Italy.


Club career
Agyemang-Badu began his career at Berlin F.C. Berekum, Brong-Ahafo, before later signing for Berekum Arsenal. He was announced in the Ghana Premier League All Star Team on 21 May 2007.
Berekum Arsenal and Recreativo de Huelva
On 11 July 2008, Agyemang-Badu left Berekum Arsenal, signing a one year loan contract with Asante Kotoko.


Agyemang-Badu had trials in England with Middlesbrough in August 2008 and at Wolves three months later.


He then signed on 16 April 2009 a six months loan contract with Recreativo de Huelva, on loan from Berlin FC. Reuters quoted a source from a Berlin FC official, that the loan cost Recreativo about €30,000 (US$40,000), while Associated Press reported his new club holds an option for a contract between 30 June 2012 and the loan will be effective until the opening of 2009 summer transfer window. His contract with the Spanish club Recreativo de Huelva was dissolved in September 2009 and he moved back to Asante Kotoko.


Udinese
In November 2009, BBC and Sky Sports announced the Italian Serie A side Udinese will sign him in January 2010 and on 28 January 2010 Udinese Calcio announced the deal in their official site which the Udine club signed him permanently from Berlin FC. He 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.


Agyemang-Badu became a regular in 2011–12 season, replacing departed Gökhan inler in new 4–1–4–1 or 4–4–1–1 formation against Arsenal. He was one of the cover of attacking midfielder Giampiero Pinzi along with countryman Kwadwo Asamoah.


International career
Agyemang-Badu has represented Ghana at under-20, under-23 and senior level. On 22 May 2008 was his first call to the Black Stars. His first game was on 8 June 2008 against Lesotho national football team. On 1 January 2009 was named for the Black Satellites for the 2009 African Youth Championship in Rwanda. Agyemang-Badu played for the Local Black Stars at 2009 African Championship of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire and represented his team at 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.


Agyemang-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. Agyemang-Badu scored his first senior level goal against Congo, in June 2011.


During the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in a game between Ghana and Guinea, Agyemang-Badu flipped up a teammate's pass from just outside the box 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).


He was named in the Black Stars provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup Brazil, 2014.


Personal life
His brother Nana Agyemang-Badu plays currently for Asante Kotoko.