HARRISON, N.J. (February 9, 2016) – The New York Red Bulls have completed the transfer of Ghanaian central defender Gideon Baah from Finnish side Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (HJK Helsinki), pending completion of his ITC and P1 Visa. Baah, 24, has experience in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, and made his international debut for Ghana last October.

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“Gideon has all the characteristics we were looking for in a central defender,” said Sporting Director Ali Curtis. “He fits our style of play extremely well and we are anxious to have him get started with our club.”



Baah’s professional career began with Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League. In early 2013 he was sent on loan to FC Honka of the Veikkausliiga, the top division in Finland. After impressing in his first season, FC Honka completed the transfer of Baah in July 2013. During that season he also appeared for FC Honka in Europa League qualifying.



Baah made the move to HJK Helsinki in 2014. He appeared in four UEFA Champions League qualification matches for HJK last summer, recording one goal and one assist.​



In all, Baah has made 70 appearances in the Finnish league over the last three seasons, totaling four goals and seven assists. He made 29 league appearances for Honka in 2013, 25 for HJK in 2014 and 16 appearances in the 2015 season. He won the Finnish Cup, Finland’s domestic Open Cup competition, in 2014 with HJK.



He has six appearances in each the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.



The 24-year-old made his senior debut for the Ghanaian national team in October 2015, in a match against Canada at RFK Stadium that also saw current Red Bull Lloyd Sam make his debut for the Black Stars.



The New York Red Bulls open the 2016 MLS regular season at home on Sunday, March 6, when Toronto FC visits Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m., with coverage on MSG Networks and Red Bulls Radio via TuneIn.

Gideon Baah