Juventus Academy Ghana proudly joins its sister club, SMAC Sporting Club, in celebrating a major milestone for Anderstain Owusu Akwasi: the signing of a four-year professional contract and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in European football.
Selected by Aston Villa, the young defender will spend the coming months developing at Real Unión Club in Spain, part of Aston Villa’s wider football network. This period will give him valuable experience in European football as he continues his progression in the professional game.
For Anderstain, this achievement reflects years of dedication, discipline, and hard work. For everyone involved in his development at SMAC SC, it is a proud moment—and a powerful example of what young talent in Ghana can achieve with the right preparation and support.
Two Distinct Programmes, One Shared Purpose
Juventus Academy Ghana and SMAC SC have different structures and approaches, but their purpose is the same: to help every young player reach their fullest potential, on and off the pitch.
Juventus Academy Ghana brings the Juventus training methodology and values to young footballers, combining technical and tactical learning with teamwork, respect, discipline, and enjoyment, raising the level of competitiveness in line with the ambitions of the young people and their families.
SMAC SC provides a competitive club environment, supporting talented players—including young people who might otherwise lack access to such opportunities—as they develop and pursue pathways into higher levels of football.
These programmes recognise that fulfilling a young person’s potential can take many forms. For some Juventini, it may mean signing a professional contract. For others, it may mean earning a university scholarship, combining education with sport, or simply enjoying football, building confidence, and forming lasting friendships.
Every one of these outcomes matters. Our shared responsibility is to help young people discover their abilities and give them the support to make the most of them.
A Distinctive Model for Football Development in Africa
The strength of our approach lies in bringing these ambitions together within one sporting community.
By combining structured academy training, competitive football, educational aspirations, and opportunities for international progression, Juventus Academy Ghana and SMAC SC are building a distinctive and positive model for youth development in Africa.
It is a model that values both sporting excellence and personal growth, creating space for different abilities, circumstances, and ambitions. Its success is measured in professional opportunities and scholarships, but also in the confidence, character, and happiness of the young people who take part.
Anderstain’s achievement demonstrates one of the pathways this environment can help make possible.
From JUVENTUS FAMILY to European Professional Football
Anderstain’s development has taken place through SMAC SC, where his commitment and performances helped him earn the attention of Aston Villa.
His selection and four-year professional contract mark a significant step forward. The next stage, at Real Unión Club in Spain, will allow him to adapt to a new football culture, work within a different coaching environment, and gain experience of the demands of European professional football.
This is an important foundation for the work ahead. As he enters this new chapter, the same qualities that brought him this far—humility, resilience, discipline, and a willingness to learn—will remain essential.
His achievement also reflects the commitment of the coaches, staff, and everyone who has supported his journey.
Inspiring Every Young Player
For the children and young people at Juventus Academy Ghana and SMAC SC, Anderstain’s story offers a powerful source of inspiration.
Each player will follow a different path, shaped by their abilities, interests, and ambitions. Our role is to help them progress with purpose, whether their next goal is a professional career, a university education, or the joy of improving and playing alongside their friends.
Celebrating a professional signing reinforces that wider mission: to create an environment in which every child’s development matters and every achievement has value.
Looking Ahead
The entire Juventus Academy Ghana community joins SMAC SC in congratulating Anderstain Owusu Akwasi on his four-year professional contract and wishing him every success in Spain.
His journey reflects the talent within Ghanaian football and the importance of investing in young people with patience, ambition, and a clear sense of purpose.
We are proud of what he has achieved—and equally committed to helping every young player in our sporting family discover how far their own potential can take them.
Two programmes. One shared purpose. Every child’s potential.