A young Canadian Premier League star is on the move, as Forge FC announced on Wednesday that Kwasi Poku has been transferred to Belgian side RWD Molenbeek for a CPL-record undisclosed fee and future considerations.
Poku, 21, has been one of the most exciting players in the entire CPL this year, earning this move to Europe on the back of an incredible run of form over the summer. In 14 games after converting from a left-back to a striker earlier this season, Poku scored 10 goals, including memorable finishes against Major League Soccer clubs CF Montréal and Toronto FC as well as eight in the CPL to push Forge toward the top of the table.
After choosing to pursue his professional career at home by signing for Forge in January 2022, Poku developed his game at the CPL side by fighting for first-team minutes, eventually breaking into the squad regularly in 2023 and earning a nomination for the CPL’s Best Canadian U-21 Player Award. In 2024, Poku took another step forward by emerging as one of the most important pieces in Forge’s starting XI, first taking on the striker role due to injuries in the squad but immediately proving his ability to thrive in the position.
GOAL⚒️⚒️@ForgeFCHamilton are flying in Montréal🪽
Kwasi Poku has made it 2-0 in leg 2 of Forge's #CanChamp QF tie vs #CFMTL, putting them up 3-1 on aggregate
CFMTL now needs at least 3 goals to win this tie👀
🔴Watch TELUS #CanChamp on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/VAnj4A3lD3
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 23, 2024
In total, Poku played 70 games for Forge across three seasons, winning two CPL titles while also competing in the Canadian Championship and Concacaf Champions Cup. The native of Brampton, Ont. first signed for Forge from the reserve system of Toronto FC, having played in their academy as well as in the youth systems of League1 Ontario sides Woodbridge Strikers and Unionville Milliken SC.
At the international level, Poku has represented Canada at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship, appearing in all four of the Canadian team’s matches.
“Kwasi is a young player who took his commitment to development and improving seriously,” said Forge head coach and sporting director Bobby Smyrniotis. “He fought to warrant his place on our roster and in our team, worked to make his mark in the Canadian Premier League and has parlayed the opportunity he earned on home soil into a chance to test himself in a top league in Europe.
“His is an example that all up-and-coming Canadian soccer players should strive to follow. We look forward to seeing where his career takes him from here.”
RWD Molenbeek currently play in Belgium’s second tier after being relegated from the Belgian Pro League last season. The club will, therefore, be hoping Poku can help their push for promotion to return to the top flight.
Based in the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean area of Brussels, RWDM are a club known for their youth development, having produced the likes of recent Belgian national team players Michy Batshuayi and Adnan Januzaj.
Molenbeek are managed by Yannick Ferrera, who was already familiar with two Forge players having worked with both Béni Badibanga and Nana Ampomah at Standard Liège and Waasland-Beveren.
