Quick Facts
Scorpio
Biography
Tariqe Kumahl Malachi Akwesi Fosu (born 5 November 1995), sometimes known as Tariqe Fosu-Henry, is an English professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Brentford. A product of the Reading academy, he rose to prominence at Charlton Athletic and Oxford United, before transferring to Brentford in January 2020. Fosu was capped by England at U18 level.
Club career
Reading
A left winger or attacking midfielder, Fosu began his career in the Reading academy at the age of 9 in 2004 and progressed to be awarded a scholarship at the end of the 2011–12 season. He was involved in numerous successes with the Royals' U18 and U21 teams and signed a professional contract during the 2013–14 season. Fosu was named in the first team squad on three occasions during the 2014–15 season and made his debut on the final day, as a substitute for Jack Stacey after 30 minutes of a 3–0 victory over Derby County. He signed a new two-year contract on 26 June 2015, but spent much of the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons with the U21 team or away on loan. Fosu turned down a new contract and transferred away from Madejski Stadium at the end of the 2016–17 season.
Fleetwood Town (loan)
On 11 November 2015, Fosu moved to League One club Fleetwood Town on loan until 2 January 2016. He made 7 appearances and scored his first senior goal during his spell, which came in a 5–1 victory over Swindon Town on 21 November.
Accrington Stanley (loan)
On 24 March 2016, Fosu joined promotion-chasing League Two club Accrington Stanley on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season. He made 8 appearances, scored three goals and was part of the team that was defeated by AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-off semi-finals. Fosu's performances during April 2016 won him the League Two Player of the Month award.
Colchester United (loan)
On 31 August 2016, Fosu joined League One Colchester United on a half-season loan, which was subsequently extended until the end of the 2016–17 season. He made 34 appearances and scored six goals for the club.
Charlton Athletic
On 19 June 2017, Fosu joined League One club Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed nominal fee and signed a two-year contract, effective 1 July 2017. He had two successful seasons with the Addicks, scoring a perfect hat-trick (right foot, left foot and head) against former club Fleetwood Town on 30 September 2017, finishing the 2017–18 season as the club's second-leading scorer and helping the club to two play-off finishes, though he missed the successful 2019 play-off campaign due to a hamstring injury. Fosu turned down a new contract and departed the club when it expired at the end of the 2018–19 season. During two seasons at The Valley, Fosu made 65 appearances and scored 11 goals.
Oxford United
On 1 July 2019, Fosu reunited with his former Charlton Athletic manager Karl Robinson at League One club Oxford United and signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He scored 10 goals in his first 33 appearances for the club and departed the Kassam Stadium on the final day of the January 2020 transfer window.
Brentford
On 31 January 2020, Fosu transferred to Championship club Brentford, after the £750,000 release clause in his Oxford United contract was activated. He signed a 3 ⁄2-year contract and made 11 appearances and scored one goal during what remained of the 2019–20 season, which ended with defeat in the 2020 Championship play-off Final.
International career
Fosu was capped by England at U18 level. He was called up to the Ghana squad for two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March 2020, which were later postponed.
Style of play
An attacking player, Fosu has been described as "most comfortable on the left side of a three, he isn't a flying winger, but one who can call upon quick feet and an eye for goal to hurt the opposition. More likely to cut in from wide and shoot rather than get a ball in from the byline".
Personal life
Fosu is of Ghanaian descent.
Career statistics
- As of match played 4 August 2020
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Reading | 2014–15 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Reading U21 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Fleetwood Town (loan) | 2015–16 | League One | 6 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2015–16 | League Two | 8 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | ||
| Colchester United (loan) | 2016–17 | League Two | 33 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 34 | 6 | |
| Charlton Athletic | 2017–18 | League One | 30 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 9 |
| 2018–19 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||
| Total | 57 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 65 | 11 | ||
| Oxford United | 2019–20 | League One | 25 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 10 |
| Brentford | 2019–20 | Championship | 10 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 140 | 29 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 161 | 32 | ||
Honours
Reading
- U21 Premier League Cup (1): 2013–14
Charlton Athletic
- EFL League One play-offs (1): 2019
Individual
- Football League Two Player of the Month (1): April 2016
- Oxford United Player of the Month (2): September 2019, October 2019
