Malachi Boateng (born 5 July 2002) is an English footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian. He came through the youth academy of Crystal Palace, and has previously played on loan with Scottish clubs Queen's Park and Dundee.
 Boateng training with Dundee in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Malachi Boateng | ||
| Date of birth | 5 July 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2022 | Crystal Palace | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Crystal Palace | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → Queen's Park (loan) | 34 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | → Dundee (loan) | 32 | (0) |
| 2024– | Heart of Midlothian | 12 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024 | |||
Early life
editBoateng was born in England and has Ghanaian heritage.[1] He is the brother of former Crystal Palace academy footballer Hiram Boateng.[2]
Career
editCrystal Palace
editBoateng joined the Crystal Palace youth system at the age of 11, signing his first professional contract with the Eagles in October 2019. He won both the Under-18 and Under-23 player of the season awards during his time in the youth teams, and made three appearances for the Under 21 team in the 2021–22 EFL Trophy.[3] He traveled with the first-team squad on their pre-season tour to Singapore and Australia in advance of the 2022–23 season, making two appearances as substitute.
Queen's Park (loan)
editBoateng joined Scottish Championship side Queen's Park on loan for the 2022–23 season on 12 August 2022.[4] He made his professional debut by starting for Queens Park in a 3–2 victory over Partick Thistle at Ochilview Park a day later.[5] Boateng enjoyed a very strong season with the Spiders, helping the small side come close to winning the league, and would end the season being named to PFA Scotland's Scottish Championship Team of the Year.[6] He was also named as both the committee's and the supporters' Queen's Park Player of the Year at the end of the season.[7]
Dundee (loan)
editOn 18 July 2023, Boateng joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee on a season-long loan.[8] He would make his competitive debut later that same day in an away Scottish League Cup group stage win against Bonnyrigg Rose.[9] Boateng had a successful season with Dundee, making 36 total appearances and helping the club finish in the top six of the 2023–24 Scottish Premiership before returning to his parent club.[10]
Heart of Midlothian
editOn 3 August 2024, Boateng joined Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[11][12] He made his debut for the Jambos on the same day, coming on as a substitute in the league opener against Rangers.[13]
Career statistics
edit- As of 10 November 2024[14]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Crystal Palace | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Queen's Park (loan) | 2022–23 | Scottish Championship | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[b] | 1 | 41 | 3 |
| Dundee (loan) | 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Heart of Midlothian | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Career total | 78 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 97 | 3 | ||
- ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ Three appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, and two appearances and one goal in Premiership play-offs
- ^ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League
References
edit- ^ "Ghanaian youngster Malachi Boateng joins Scottish club Queens Park on loan". ghanasoccernet.com. 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Malachi Boateng signs first pro contract with Crystal Palace". sportyafrica.com.
- ^ "Malachi Boateng". Queen's Park Football Club. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ "Malachi Boateng moves from Crystal Palace to Queens Park on loan". cpfc.co.uk. 12 August 2022.
- ^ "QUEENS PARK VS. PARTICK THISTLE 3-2". UK.Soccerway.com.
- ^ "cinch Championship Team of the Season 22/23 | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ Cairns, Ian (25 June 2023). "Sponsor Event and Player of the Year Awards". Queen's Park Football Club. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Malachi Boateng joins The Dee". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Squad Update 2024 - Dundee Football Club - Official Website". dundeefc.co.uk. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Boateng is a Jambo – Hearts". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Malachi Boateng: Midfielder joins Hearts from Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Hearts vs Rangers: Scottish Premiership". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Scotland - M. Boateng - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
External links
edit- Malachi Boateng at Soccerway