The Red Bulls didn’t take long in filling the hole left by centerback Matt Miazga’s departure, signing Ghanaian National Team defender Gideon Baah on a transfer from HJK Helsinki in Finland.
After Damien Perinelle suffered a season-ending knee injury in last year’s playoffs and the 20-year-old Miazga was sold to English Premier League powerhouse Chelsea for $5 million, the Red Bulls were without both of last season’s starting centerbacks and needed reinforcements. The 24-year-old Baah could be an answer.
“He’s a guy that fits. He has a lot of qualities that fit the position the way we like it to be played,’’ coach Jesse Marsch said. “He has very good feet, he’s a smart soccer player. He’s played both left back and centerback; but he’s primarily a centerback and that’s how we plan to use him.
“He was a sought-after player by quite a few teams in places, but he’s excited about this opportunity and this challenge and we’re excited to have him here.’’
Baah was sought by Barcelona’s B-team, which had a bid accepted for him only to have the move fall through at the last minute. Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis was all too happy to pounce on Baah, an athletic left-footer who has six appearances in each the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
“Gideon has all the characteristics we were looking for in a central defender,’’ Curtis said of Baah, who helped HJK to last year’s League Cup crown and was ranked the best left back in the 2014 Europa League with a 7.90 rating by Whoscored.com.
But it was a game for country, not club, that helped bring Baah to the Red Bulls. He made his debut for Ghana in the same game in which Red Bulls midfielder Lloyd Sam did, a 1-1 tie versus Canada last October. Sam helped recruit him to New York.
“He was telling me Red Bull is a great club, they play good football and it’s good for me. It suits me the kind of player I am,’’ Baah said. “I had the opportunity to watch them last year on Eurosport in Finland, and it was an easy decision for me.��