Football
KweséESPN Reporter 7y

Ghana's Kwesi Appiah signs for Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon have completed the signing of Crystal Palace's Ghana international Kwesi Appiah, the League One side confirmed on their official website.

The 26-year-old previously spent a brief spell on loan with the Dons in 2014, and will return to the Londoners when his Palace contract expires on July 1.

"I really loved my short spell at AFC Wimbledon a few years ago and I am really hungry to do well after a couple of frustrating seasons," Appiah told the club's official website. "I know the people at the club well and I look forward to building a great relationship with the fans again."

Appiah has struggled to establish himself in the Premier League, making just 10 outings in all competitions since joining the Eagles from Margate in January 2012.

He's enjoyed some success on loan in the lower leagues, scoring three in seven with Wimbledon, while also representing a series of teams including Yeovil Town, Reading, Notts County, Aldershot Town and Cambridge United.

Appiah most recently spent two months on loan with Norwegian top flight outfit Viking FK.

The Thamesmead-born striker has endured a litany of fitness concerns in recent campaigns, notably damaging his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty in June 2015.

Appiah was introduced into the international fold by previous Black Stars coach Avram Grant, who debuted the striker ahead of the 2015 Nations Cup before including the inexperienced hitman in his 23-man squad for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

The forward answered his critics with a series of lively displays as a replacement for malaria-stricken Asamoah Gyan, and scored in the quarter-final triumph over Guinea. However, he's not featured for the national side since 2015, having scored two in nine outings for the Black Stars.

"This is such a good signing for the club," added Wimbledon coach Neal Ardley. "We tried several times to bring Kwesi back, but after he took the Africa Cup of Nations by storm with Ghana I thought it could never happen.

"Goals are the hardest thing to create and score so Kwesi will hopefully help us in that department. "He has been getting fit and sharp playing in Norway and all being well, he will be ready to hit the ground running," the manager continued. "We are delighted with this signing and I'm sure the fans will be too."

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