From Warrior to World Stage

Continue Reading Issue 42

A few years ago, Patrick Agyemang was just another determined college athlete — a confident striker from East Hartford playing Division III soccer at Eastern Connecticut State University, boldly proclaiming he would one day play professionally.

People laughed.

Today, Agyemang is a rising star on the international stage, wearing the jersey of the U.S. Men’s National Team and a recent transfer from Major League Soccer (MLS) to Derby County Football Club in the United Kingdom. In June 2025, he returned home to Connecticut, starting for the national team at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in front of 34,000 fans, including the very people who helped shape his journey.

From the pitch to the press box, it was clear: Patrick Agyemang’s life has changed — not just in circumstance, but in influence, visibility, and purpose.

HOMETOWN HERO

When Agyemang took the East Hartford field to face Türkiye in a warmup for the World Cup — taking place in summer 2026 — the energy was electric. Local youth soccer teams, Eastern alumni, and national team supporters packed the stands. But for those who knew Agyemang personally, it was more than a game. 

In the crowd were his parents, watching their son represent the United States on the field for the first time in his home state. Nearby were Eastern President Karim Ismaili, men’s soccer Coach Greg DeVito, and many more from the Eastern community.

Though the U.S. lost 2–1, Agyemang held his own against seasoned European defenders, once again proving that he belongs at the elite level. The cheers he received weren’t just for his performance. They were for his journey — one that began on the fields of East Hartford and Eastern.

KICKING OFF AT EASTERN

Agyemang’s journey to the pros didn’t follow the traditional script. In part due to his young age — Agyemang was 17 during his freshman season at Eastern — he wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school. But Eastern was invited by Agyemang’s high school coach to attend his senior night match. “Two days later, I was on the phone with Coach DeVito,” said Agyemang. “I verbally committed soon after.”

He moved into Constitution Hall, room 401, where he shared a suite with teammates. “We’d hang out outside the building, throw a football around, do homework, just talk. When the weather was nice, we’d lay out blankets and enjoy it,” he recalled.

He played pickup games on Webb Lawn, joined fashion shows with the African Club, and grabbed meals at Hurley Hall with friends. “I just remember having fun,” he said. “That was the main thing for me.”

Playing for the Warriors, Agyemang quickly emerged as a formidable offensive player. Coach DeVito recalled his breakout sophomore season, in which Agyemang scored 21 goals and earned Division III All-America honors.

He's an internally, intrinsically motivated kind of guy. His story is a testament to hard work.

Coach Gregory DeVito

“He was a very creative player, tough to defend,” said DeVito. “He had the technique and speed a lot of DIII [athletes] don’t have, but the biggest thing he had was the motivation to do it on his own. He didn’t just rely on practice to get better. He put in the extra work, trained on his own. He’s an internally, intrinsically motivated kind of guy. His story is a testament to hard work. I couldn’t be prouder.”

In 2019, Agyemang was joined on the field by his older brother, Emmanuel ’21, who played defense on the men’s soccer team. “It was amazing. I had one of my best friends with me, built in as my brother,” said Agyemang. “We’d trained together our whole lives. Playing at Eastern together just felt right.”

Though the two rarely played on the same formal teams growing up due to their age gap, they bonded over backyard training sessions and brotherly competition. “We knew each other’s games inside and out,” he said. “That season together was one of our favorite years.”

BALANCING BOOKS AND THE GAME

Agyemang majored in health sciences at Eastern, initially planning for a career in physical therapy or nursing. “I knew I wanted to work with athletes. Health sciences gave me options — physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing — so I followed that path before I realized soccer could be an actual option,” he said.

His upbringing in a Ghanaian household reinforced the importance of education. “I had to prioritize being a student because it allowed me to play,” he said. “And I wanted to make sure I had my degree.” 

Balancing school and athletics wasn’t always easy. “During the season, it was tough. You had to work harder, ask more questions, be disciplined,” he said. “But I’m grateful for it. That experience built my time management skills, and I still rely on that today.”

THE LEAP TO DIVISION I

In 2020, Agyemang transferred to the University of Rhode Island to compete at the Division I level. “The competitive nature got 10 times harder,” he said. “There were international players, scholarship guys. I was there to take someone’s spot.”

Despite the pressure, Agyemang never doubted himself. “I’ve always backed myself,” he said. “As long as I’m there and I play, I’ll shine at some point.”

That confidence — and a lifelong underdog mentality — fueled his rise. “I love proving people wrong,” he added. “I’ve been doing it my whole life. You can think whatever you want, but eventually, you won’t be able to ignore me.”

FROM CHARLOTTE TO THE NATIONAL TEAM

In 2023, Agyemang was drafted 12th overall by Charlotte Football Club in the MLS SuperDraft. In his first season, he led the team in goals. By 2025, he had earned a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team, scoring five goals in his first nine appearances, including a game-winner against Haiti. This summer, he finalized a deal to transfer to Derby County Football Club, which competes in the second tier of professional English football.

Agyemang describes his journey of becoming a professional soccer player as surreal. “To be able to do it now is great, but it makes me realize the work has just begun.” Recalling the first post-collegiate match his parents attended, he said, “They were on the field, in the suites. … I think that was the moment they realized, ‘Wow, our son is a professional soccer player.’ Giving them that experience meant everything.”

If you're committed and you have faith, anything can happen.

The leap to pro soccer wasn’t seamless. “Two years ago, when I first got to Charlotte, I was probably at my lowest,” Agyemang admitted. “It was hard mentally and physically.” But his love for the game never faded. “I’m obsessed with soccer,” he said. “If you start playing like it’s just a job, the passion goes. I play in a way that lets people watching feel the joy through me.”

He keeps himself grounded through journaling, community work, and time with friends and family. “When you’re trying to accomplish something great, there’s always noise,” he said. “But confidence is internal. I remind myself who I am.”

FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Agyemang’s story isn’t just about personal triumph — it’s about representation. “I never played academy. I came up through public school, middle school, club, DIII. I just want every kid from a background like mine to know: if you’re committed and you have faith, anything can happen.”

Back at Rentschler Field during that match against Türkiye, he looked up at a stadium full of fans chanting his name — to the section where his parents stood and to the supporters in Eastern sweatshirts.

He saw them. He sees all of us. And with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, his journey is just getting started.

Continue Reading Issue 42