Inside the rise of Jeremie Frimpong: From hat-tricks in two games on the same day before joining Man City’s academy to the heart and soul of Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title party – and now he’s a key target for Man United
During Bayer Leverkusen’s unique celebration after finally winning a Bundesliga title, Jeremy Frimpong was asked what his secret to a happy life is.
‘Just smile, just enjoy life, because you only live once. So while we are on this earth, just have fun, love others and give positive energy and then life will be good,” he replied.
Frimpong certainly has plenty to smile about at the moment. The Dutch right winger has played an important role in Leverkusen’s extraordinary season.
Xabi Alonso’s side have broken Bayern Munich’s 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga title, winning their first ever title and remaining undefeated.
They could still add the German Cup and UEFA Europa League to their collection, with the second leg of their quarter-final against West Ham coming up on Thursday. They lead 2-0.
Jeremy Frimpong was at the center of Bayer Leverkusen’s celebrations as they finally ended their long wait for a first Bundesliga title last weekend
The full-back has had an excellent season, with Leverkusen finally putting an end to decades of injuries
Frimpong has become a fundamental player for Xabi Alonso and his system fits in perfectly
Frimpong, 23, went viral this weekend after he mocked teammate Granit beamed with happiness.
It didn’t take long for him to be linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, with his contract reportedly containing a £34 million release clause if activated before the 2024 European Championship.
If it happens, the move would take him back to where his football career began: in Manchester City’s academy.
He did not make the first team there, but came to the limelight at Celtic, where the youngster’s raw pace and tenacity brought him to attention and earned him critical acclaim.
But it is after signing for Leverkusen in January 2021 that Frimpong’s career really took off, and especially under Alonso’s tutelage.
Because Frimpong likes to position himself firmly in the opponent’s half, some coaches consider him too offensive-minded to function effectively as a full-back.
But his abilities are a perfect fit for Alonso’s favored 3-4-3 system and although Leverkusen were in second place when the Spaniard took charge in October 2022, they have now been transformed.
In reality, Frimpong has continued to deteriorate on the field. He was a striker when he first played for Clayton FC in east Manchester at the age of eight, not long after mother Bernice and her seven children moved to Britain from the Netherlands in 2007.
Jeremy Frimpong’s jubilant interview after winning the Bundesliga has gone viral
His older brother Jeffrey used to offer incentives for scoring goals – money to buy a PS3 – but that got quite expensive when Jeremy started earning 50 a season.
The youngster spoke little English when he first moved to Manchester, but made friends playing football, which was all he ever wanted to do.
On some Saturdays he would play for AFC Clayton in the morning and Clayton Villa in the afternoon – often scoring hat-tricks for both.
There was interest from Blackburn, Bolton and Liverpool, but City’s academy not only offered opportunities but was within traveling distance of the Frimpong home.
Mind you, that still required three buses so that when mom Bernice wasn’t working multiple jobs to feed the family, she would travel with her little soccer prodigy while the couple enjoyed chicken and chips after practices.
Frimpong quickly rose through the ranks of City’s youth team and was part of the squad for two FA Youth Cup finals, but the path to Pep Guardiola’s first team was far from clear.
“I think when I was at City under-23s, I remember signing a new contract and that’s when I knew my path at City was different,” Frimpong said. Sports Bible earlier this year.
‘They talked about me not being able to get into the team and compared me to other players in the academy who were doing better than me.
Frimpong (left) in action for Manchester City under 23s against Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka
It was after a £300,000 move from City to Celtic that Frimpong’s career really took off
‘I thought: yes, I clearly have no future here, so I have to take another step.’
Celtic replaced him in September 2019 and a £300,000 move north of the border proved to be the springboard for Frimpong’s career.
On his debut in senior football, a Scottish League Cup tie against Partick Thistle, he was man of the match.
He was rewarded with a starting place in the final against Rangers, but was sent off for a foul on Alfredo Morelos in the penalty area. Fortunately for Frimpong, Morelos missed and Celtic won 1-0.
Fans voted him Celtic’s young player of the year for 2019/20 and within 18 months Leverkusen had submitted a £10m bid.
23 goals and 31 assists later, Frimpong will now be forever etched in Leverkusen history as part of the team that lifted a 119-year curse.
Frimpong saw red for Celtic against Rangers in the 2019/20 Scottish League Cup final
But Celtic eventually won the final 1-0, meaning Frimpong’s (left) red card cost them nothing
His dribbling and chance creation have reached new heights in a winning side this season, with Alonso’s three-man defense giving him the opportunity to charge forward.
Frimpong was eligible to play for the Netherlands, Ghana and England and was part of Louis van Gaal’s Dutch squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but did not make an appearance on the field.
Ronald Koeman made him his debut in the European Championship qualifier against France in October 2023, not long after upsetting him by rejecting a call-up to the European Under-21 Championship.
Frimpong played twice for the Netherlands, including against Scotland in March
Frimpong made his second appearance in the 4-0 win over Scotland in March and his Leverkusen form makes him a strong candidate to play in the European Championship this summer.
His club contract runs until 2028, but interest in Frimpong will only increase and his value could well increase with a good euro.
In the meantime, Leverkusen’s cheerful full-back will just keep smiling.