New Charleston Battery signing Dominic Oduro will enter his fifth season in the USL Championship this campaign, having made 86 regular-season appearances so far in his career. | Photo courtesy Eric Glemser / Memphis 901 FC
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Tuesday the club had signed Ghanaian midfielder Dominic Oduro ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season. The signing is pending league and federation approval.
“I’m very happy to join Charleston to keep developing myself as a player and as a person,” said Oduro. “Really looking forward to fighting for trophies with the team and coaching staff.”
The 26-year-old defensive midfielder arrives in Charleston after spending the 2021 season with Memphis 901 FC, where he made 30 appearances and logged 2,145 minutes played. Oduro tallied 30 interceptions, 30 clearances and 118 duels won during the campaign as he helped Memphis earn its first trip to the USL Championship Playoffs in club history.
“Dominic is a natural defensive midfielder, he’s got good tendencies to really protect the back line and hold that space there,” said Battery Head Coach Conor Casey. “He’s got great athleticism, he’s good in his tackles and he’s a good runner, all really important things for that position.”
Oduro made his Championship debut with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he made 57 regular season appearances between 2018 to 2020. In 2020, he helped Tampa Bay secure the 2020 USL Championship Eastern Conference Title. Overall, Oduro has made 86 regular season appearances in the Championship, recording one goal and two assists.
A native of Accra, Ghana, Oduro started his playing career in Ghana at the Right to Dream Academy. That propelled him into joining the Manchester City FC Academy in January 2013, where he would spend the next two years, split between the academy team and three other European sides via loans.
Oduro first joined Danish Superliga club Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF) in early 2013 on an 18-month loan, where he would appear in 13 matches and score one goal. After AGF, Oduro joined Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz of the Belgian Second Division in 2014. Oduro then joined Superettan side IK Frej Täby on loan in 2015, where made 12 appearances with the Swedish second division club.
Following his tenure with City’s academy, Oduro returned to Denmark when he signed with FC Nordsjælland in 2016. The midfielder’s stay with the Superliga club was brief and he left Europe when he was selected by Seattle Sounders FC in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, 44th overall, before eventually signing with USL League Two side FC Golden State Force.