Ghana international Nicholas Opoku has set his sights on helping UD Las Palmas secure a return to La Liga after completing his move to the Spanish second-tier outfit.
The experienced centre-back joined the Canary Islands club on a two-year contract during the ongoing summer transfer window, arriving with the responsibility of providing leadership and stability to a relatively youthful squad chasing promotion.
Las Palmas opened their Segunda Division campaign against Albacete Balompié without the Ghanaian defender, but Opoku is in line to make his first appearance for the club when they face Ceuta on Saturday, August 22.
Speaking at his official unveiling, the former Ghana U-20 defender outlined his ambitions, making it clear that promotion is at the heart of his decision to move to Spain.
“My goal is to help the team and make history. I decided to come because of the club’s ambition and the desire to achieve promotion,” said the Ghanaian during his unveiling.
“I am delighted to be here and to show the kind of footballer I am,” he added.
Opoku’s arrival also adds another chapter to Ghana’s association with Las Palmas. He becomes the third Ghanaian to represent the club, following in the footsteps of former Black Stars internationals Mubarak Wakaso and Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Before completing the move, Opoku sought insight from Wakaso, who previously enjoyed a spell with the Spanish side and offered encouraging feedback about life at the club.
“I was talking to Wakaso about the club, and he gave me good feedback. He told me about the seriousness of the club, its structure, and the people,” continued Opoku.
The defender, who has accumulated considerable experience at both domestic and international level, believes his immediate priority is to contribute to the team’s objectives while adapting to the demands of Spanish football.
“I am here, above all, to help and fight. I am very happy. I consider myself a strong player, and I also come to learn and adapt to the style.”
Nicholas Opoku chose Las Palmas over Gaziantep in search of a fresh challenge
For Opoku, the move represents more than simply a new chapter in his career. The prospect of eventually playing in Spain’s top flight was a major attraction, and he revealed that he was eager to complete the transfer once Las Palmas made their interest known.
“When my agent told me that there was great interest from Las Palmas in me, I wanted to make sure the deal was closed as soon as possible. It has always been a dream for me to play in LALIGA, and being here is a dream,” he concluded.
