Asante Kotoko are quietly putting together what could become their most significant January business in years; the homecoming of midfield destroyer Richard Boadu and the capture of Nations FC’s inspirational captain, Razak Simpson.
Sources inside the club’s inner circle have confirmed that both deals are at advanced stages, with personal terms already discussed and only minor contractual details remaining.
The moves are designed to solve two pressing issues that have haunted the Porcupine Warriors throughout the first half of the 2025/26 season: a midfield that has lacked bite since the summer departures and a growing uncertainty over the long-term future of defensive lynchpin Samba O’Neil.
Richard Boadu, the no-nonsense midfielder who left Kotoko in 2023 chasing a lucrative move to Libya, is now ready to wear the famous red jersey again, this time with a point to prove.
After stints with Al Ahly Benghazi, Al-Tahaddy and a short-lived adventure at Tunisian giants Club Africain (ended by foreign-player quota restrictions in June 2025), the 27-year-old has been a free agent for five months.
Since returning to Ghana in late September, he has been training daily with Kotoko at Adako Jachie under the watchful eye of coach Abdul Karim Zito.
He has matured, he’s hungrier than ever, and he knows exactly what the Kotoko shirt demands.” Boadu’s last spell at the club (2021–2023) saw him lift the Ghana Premier League title in 2022 and wear the captain’s armband on several occasions.
His ability to break up play, win second balls and launch quick transitions made him a fan favourite. Supporters still chant his nickname “Agadas” whenever highlights of that title-winning season are replayed.
The 26-year-old Nations FC skipper is out of contract in June 2026 and has made it clear he will not renew with the Abrankese-based club.
Kotoko have moved swiftly, tabling a pre-contract offer that would see Simpson join as early as January 1, provided Nations agree to a modest compensation fee believed to be in the region of GHS 350,000–450,000.
The direct trigger for Kotoko’s urgency is Samba O’Neil. The Congolese centre-back, who has been outstanding since arriving in 2024, has attracted firm interest from two Egyptian Premier League sides and one club in the Saudi Pro League.
Although O’Neil publicly insists he wants to stay, the feeling within the club is that he could be tempted by a life-changing offer in January.
Management have therefore identified Simpson, a Black Stars international with five caps, as the ideal heir. Tall, commanding in the air, excellent on the ball and already a proven leader at 26, Simpson ticks every box.
His spectacular 45-yard goal against Hearts of Oak last season and his calm debut for Ghana against Sudan in November 2024 have only increased his market value.
Nations FC are resigned to losing their talisman but hope to convince him to stay until the end of the season. Kotoko, however, are pushing hard for an immediate transfer, arguing that Simpson would benefit from six months bedding into the squad ahead of next season’s CAF inter-club campaign.
If both signings are completed, Kotoko will have pulled off a rare double coup using primarily free or low-cost acquisitions, a necessity after heavy spending in the last two windows. Club insiders describe the potential Boadu–Simpson axis as the missing spine that could turn a solid but unspectacular season into a genuine title charge.
For the Fabulous faithful, the prospect of seeing “Agadas” marshalling midfield again and Simpson marshalling the backline feels like a throwback to the glory days, only this time with a modern, ambitious twist.