When Solomon Asante was announced as a new arrival at Phoenix Rising FC in the offseason prior to the 2018 USL Championship season, he came to a club that was already on its way to becoming one of the more respected in the league.

The season prior, after the arrival of new ownership led by Berke Bakay in 2016, the club had undergone a transformation. A new brand, a new soccer-specific home, and new faces including that of legendary forward Didier Drogba had carried the side to its first USL Championship Playoffs appearance.

If Drogba’s arrival brought the international spotlight to Rising FC, though, Asante’s added the rocket fuel that powered the club’s ascent into the Championship’s elite.

In terms of game-in and game-out production, there is no-one to touch him.

Asante’s 90 combined regular season goals and assists may not rank first in the league’s history – that mark is held by all-time leading goalscorer Dane Kelly with 121 – but the rate at which the Ghanaian accumulated his numbers was unprecedented. Asante played only 103 regular season contests in the Championship, averaging 0.87 goals + assists per 90 minutes, putting him far above anyone in league history.  

That’s coupled to the achievement of currently sitting as the lone player in the league’s history with both at least 40 regular season goals and 40 regular season assists.

Add another five goals in 10 postseason contests – which helped drive the side to a pair of Western Conference titles – and you have a level of final-third production that will be hard to match for those that follow him in the league. 

Asante was about more than just numbers, though. His presence provided something far grander.

The buzz of anticipation that emanated from the crowd when he stood over a free kick or drove forward in attack was palpable. The highlight-reel goals – moments like his 35-yard lob against Orange County SC in 2019, or the late free kick against San Antonio FC the same year which kept Phoenix’s historic 20-game winning streak alive – brought the house down at Casino Arizona Field.

It was only fitting that his final goal in Rising FC’s colors came from a set piece, a curling epic against Rio Grande Valley FC last November that defied the angles and still found the net.

Then there were the celebrations, the 5-foot-2 giant standing tall in front of Los Bandidos and the Red Fury as smoke billowed across the field. The video of Asante and his crown, buoyed by his teammates after the club claimed its first silverware in the 2018 Western Conference Final, remains as memorable as his accomplishments on the field.

His game was what mattered most, though, and drew deserved acclaim. Voted to the Championship’s All-League First Team in each of his first three seasons in Phoenix, as well as becoming the first player to earn consecutive Championship Most Valuable Player honors in 2019 and 2020, Asante shone almost every time he stepped on the field.

As important was his work on the training ground, where he helped Rising FC’s culture continue to form and provided Phoenix the central point around which it could build.

“Asante has really transcended into a cornerstone of our club,” said Rising FC Head Coach Rick Schantz in 2020. “His professionalism, his leadership, being the captain, this guy does everything right, every day.”

There was the dedication to his routine, too. Away from his family as he pursued excellence on another continent, Asante’s life away from the training ground saw him shape his days around remaining connected virtually to his family back home.

“He’s worked his daily routine of training and rest around also making sure he makes daily contact with home,” said Schantz. “He stays up into the wee hours of the night so he can talk to his kids. After training, he’ll sleep all afternoon and then he gets up at like seven or eight and stays up until two or three because he talks to his kids before they go to school.”

Asante may now return home, with online reports suggesting a second spell at Berekum Chelsea in the Ghanaian Premier League. In his stead in Phoenix is a group of players that will take aim at the lone achievement the club was unable to deliver during his four seasons in the desert – claiming the USL Championship title. The likes of Santi Moar, Arturo Rodriguez, Aodhan Quinn and the club’s offseason newcomers certainly have what it takes to accomplish that this November.

As he departs, however, the impact of Asante’s presence at both the club and league level will live on.

The standard at Rising FC, his spirit will remain as the club continues to strive for greatness. A history-maker in the Championship, the next crop of attacking talent in the league can take aim at matching Asante’s prolificacy in the attacking third.

Chances are, we may be waiting a while to see his like again.