James Abankwah

Following his move to Udinese, Abankwah's current-season form is level with last season (Season 17→18), while his Rating climbed 66→69. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Udinese · 11th	1	0	6.9	69	18
2025/26	Watford · 16th	31	1	6.61	66	17
2024/25	WatfordLoan · 14th	19	0	6.85	63	14
2024/25	Udinese · 12th	18	0	6.53	—	—
2023/24	CharltonLoan · 16th	2	0	6.5	39	0
2022/23	Udinese · 12th	35	0	6.85	—	—
2022/23	St Patrick's Athl.	11	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 1 earlier season and 2 youth-team spells in the full career.

Republic of Ireland · international

Side	Apps	G
Republic of Ireland U21	5	0
Republic of Ireland U19	10	1
Rep. Of Ireland	39	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Rising assetCentral defender

J. Abankwah is a 22-year-old central defender at Watford, rated 65.7 overall by Field Insider's model. An emerging talent, he has been a regular starter this season (62.9% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.94 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Abankwah.

On the season, Abankwah graded 17 for current form (age-blind), on 4 clean sheets and 2.94 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 17 → 18). Across the 4 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 66. At 22 Abankwah is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 28.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Abankwah is operating at his career peak — the 2025/26 level is the level.

Peak: 2025/26Holding levelStepped up 2025/26

65.7

Ratingi

a strong, regular top-tier starter

16.9

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

62.9%

Minutes

a regular starter

2.94

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Watford finished 16th of 24 · a mid-table side

Apps

2.94

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.94 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 62.9% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Ceiling. High potential at just 22 — room to grow into a bigger role.

Watch points

Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

Rated 65.7 overall — a strong, regular top-tier starter. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.94 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 1.9×) with the best seasons likely ahead. With this floor already at 22, the ceiling gets tested by a step up in level — one to track.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %62.9%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.035

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.035

Defensive actions / 902.94

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.208

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~41), then tapers with age. At 22, Abankwah sits on 28.8, still climbing toward its peak. The blue line is Abankwah's projected Rating — 65.7 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Serie A with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles43

Interceptions27

Blocks15

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards5

Red cards1

Transfer history

€0.4M total transfer fees · 7 moves

Udinese(back from loan)Jun 2026 – now

Watford(on loan)Jan 2025 – Jun 2026

Udinese(back from loan)Jan 2024 – Jan 2025

Charlton(on loan)Sept 2023 – Jan 2024

Udinese(back from loan)Jul 2022 – Sept 2023

SSt Patrick's Athl.(on loan)Jan 2022 – Jul 2022

UdineseJan 2022 – Jan 2022€ 360K

SSt Patrick's Athl.until Jan 2022

About J. Abankwah

James Bright Adusei Abankwah is a 22-year-old centre-back who plays for Udinese, born on January 16, 2004 in Dublin, standing 182 cm tall. He is from Republic of Ireland. Udinese currently sit 11th of 20 in the Serie A.

This season

In the current season, J. Abankwah has made 1 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 90 minutes, averaging a 6.9 match rating over his last 1 rated games, with 1 yellow card.

Recent matches

August 22, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Como (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)

J. Abankwah's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Udinese face Monza away in the Serie A.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Abankwah at 65.7 with a Season form score of 16.9. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the FAI Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 6 recorded seasons, J. Abankwah has totalled 140 club appearances with 1 goal and 0 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 35 appearances for Udinese.

J. Abankwah's career has also included time at Watford, Charlton and SSt Patrick's Athl..

On the international stage, J. Abankwah has represented Republic of Ireland U21, Republic of Ireland U19, Rep. Of Ireland — 54 caps and 1 goal in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.